TN HS Team Preview: Hardin County Tigers
March 15, 2024
The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Power 25 and much more.
*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.
High School: Hardin County
Head Coach: Chad Harville
Classification: 3A
District + Region Number: District 12 + Region 6
2023 Record (Finish): 18-15
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- MIF/RHP Duke Samples (2024)
- 3B/RHP Stryder Jones (2024)
- CF/RHP Abram Wilkerson (2024)
- MIF/RHP Ryder Harville (2025)
MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2024
- Hunter Phillips
Class of 2025
- IF Cannon Clapp
- C Ean Stanley
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- IF/OF Hayes Malone (2027)
TEAM OUTLOOK
The Tigers of Hardin Country will look to improve upon their 18-15 2023 campaign where they ended up losing in sub-state play. The Tigers are led by head coach Chad Harville where they compete in District 12 Region 6. They are returning 7 starters who all had a significant role in 2023. Harville’s squad is looking to be very athletic and versatile with many players logging innings all over the field and on the mound. The Tigers are going to be led by a great upperclassmen core that is led by seniors Duke Samples, Stryder Jones, and Abram Wilkerson. Juniors Ryder Harville and Cannan Clapp also look to have big seasons. 2 long time starters Samples and Jones will be the pillars of the infield at shortstop and first base respectively. The two uncommitted seniors will look to front the pitching rotation when not patrolling the infield. Stryder Jones brings a firm fastball that works with multiple pitches within the zone. Duke Samples has a great knowledge on how to pitch who lives within the zone. ‘25 uncommitted RHP Ryder Harville has shown a high jump in velocity within the last year and brings with it a plus slider. He was a standout at our Prep Baseball Tennessee Top-Prospect games where the fastball sat between 83-85 mph and came in with firm spin in the 2300-2500 RPM range, including late life. Harville will patrol second and show good pop in the lineup as well. Patrolling center and providing quality innings is Abram Wilkerson. WIlkerson has great speed and quality actions at the plate. Junior INF Cannan Clapp will primarily be a third baseman and look to gain great everyday experience. Coach Harville has a great feeling about his squad as they look to stand atop their conference when the dust settles.
FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL TENNESSEE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING
+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on X
+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on Facebook
