photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Hudson Hardesty throws in a 6-2 loss to Rockhurst on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

Hudson Hardesty competed in the High School Baseball National Championship Series this summer with the hopes that the exposure would help in his recruitment.

As it turns out, college coaches were watching and noticing Hardesty, especially as he threw his best game of his career and earned the tournament’s “Best Pitcher” award. After his performance, the coaches at Nebraska were in attendance.

“They started showing a lot of interest after that,” Hardesty said. “(Pitching coach Rob Childress) likes that I can throw strikes and I have a good delivery. I compete really hard, and he thinks I can contribute as a freshman.”

Less than a month later, Hardesty announced his commitment to the Cornhuskers.

“I chose Nebraska because of the coaching staff and the direction the program is headed in,” Hardesty said. They’ve had multiple winning seasons in the past three or four years… of all the other colleges recruiting me, Nebraska was just a cut above, and the coaches are awesome.”

The commitment marks the accomplishment of a lifelong dream. Hardesty always wanted to play college baseball, particularly at the highest level, and Nebraska gives him that opportunity. The Cornhuskers finished the 2026 season hosting a regional in Lincoln as the No. 13 seed after going 23-7 in the Big Ten conference.

“It’s been a long time now,” Hardesty said of wanting to play college baseball. “There were some times that I didn’t really think it was possible, but I feel like I’ve accomplished it, and I was really happy with myself and the people who have helped me.”

A draw for Hardesty to Nebraska is how close it is to home, and another benefit is the familiar faces he’ll see when he gets there, as the Cornhuskers recruit the area and have several players whom Hardesty has played against.

Lincoln is close to Lawrence, and it’s also a town that Hardesty really enjoyed being in. It’s a similar vibe to Lawrence as a Midwestern college town that feeds off the sports of the university. Nebraska itself has a rich sports history and therefore invests heavily in athletics.

“They have everything you need to develop and get better, especially with the new training table they have for athletes,” Hardesty said. “I just have all the resources that I feel can make me a better baseball player.”

Hardesty is an ace pitcher as well as being the best hitter on Lawrence’s baseball team. At the National Championship Series, Hardesty was the best all-around player on Kansas, contributing with his bats and on the mound. Helping his team win in multiple ways is something Hardesty is passionate about and wants to bring with him to college.

Luckily, the coaches at Nebraska like his ability to pitch and hit, so he will get the opportunity to do both. When it comes to actually pitching and hitting in games, Hardesty knows he’ll have to really prove himself once he gets to Lincoln.

“I think it’s just how I handle that opportunity,” Hardesty said. “Obviously, if I go 0-for-30 in the first fall practice, that might not be a thing. But I definitely hope to do the best with the opportunity I get.”

Hardesty knows he’s got a lot of hard work in front of him if he’s to contribute as a freshman, but he’s ready to put in the work. A lot of that work will happen this upcoming baseball season, where Hardesty will be a senior leader for Lawrence. Finishing out his time with the Lions on a high note is important for Hardesty before he starts his college career.

“I know that I’ve got to work hard and keep getting better so I can compete right away as a freshman,” Hardesty said. “College baseball is definitely different nowadays with how many older people play it. So I’ve got to be as prepared as possible when I get there as a freshman.”