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Tiger ball player is primed for success as he inks with Crowley's Ridge
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Caruthersville High School senior Tristen Hill readies for the next pitch in a game this spring against Campbell in Caruthersville.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com
As third-year Caruthersville High School baseball coach Joey Middleton was organizing the ceremony on Wednesday to honor recent Tiger graduate Tristen Hill for signing to play baseball at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, Ark., he ran into an issue.
“We couldn’t have Tristen wear his white jersey,” Middleton said. “It was all stained, and he is the only one who has ever worn it.”
That is the type of player that Crowley’s Ridge is getting in Hill, according to Middleton, a player who will do anything for his team, including get very dirty.
“I’ve seen him take ground balls off his braces and bloody his lip,” Middleton said. “He’s broken his wrist diving for balls in the outfield.
“That is the thing about Tristen, he is really good at things that people don’t notice.”
Middleton became the first Tiger baseball player to sign to play college baseball in nearly a decade. His growth encapsulates the development of the Tiger program overall in recent years.
“We just have a group of guys right now with a relentless work ethic,” Middleton said. “They have felt some success, and with success comes hard work.
“They have taken the ball and ran with it.”
In Hill’s first three seasons of high school baseball, Caruthersville won a combined 13 games. However, he helped the program this spring win 17 of its 27 games and play for the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 championship, where the Tigers fell 4-2 to a 20-win East Prairie team.
The Tigers won their first postseason game this season in six years.
“Crowley’s Ridge is getting a special surprise with Tristen,” Middleton said, “because he is willing to do the things that others aren’t.”
Middleton utilized Hill, who was the lone senior on the 2024 Caruthersville team, all over the field in his career.
“You can play Tristen anywhere,” Middleton said. “I put him from catcher to first base, I mean all over the place. But I do think he'll thrive in the outfield.”
At the next level, Hill is expected to play in the outfield, according to Middleton, because he possesses “tools.”
“He has what I call, tools,” Middleton explained. “He is very athletic. He has very raw athleticism. He can track and fly balls really well and has a nice arm.
“Those are all tools you look for in an outfielder.”
At Caruthersville, Hill spent time studying nursing in the school’s vocational technology program so he may have a future in that professional field. Middleton envisions Hill also serving as a role model for future Tiger student-athletes.
“He's a kid that you look at,” Middleton said, “and you can see the success coming in his future.”