photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence first baseman Hudson Hardesty, left, high-fives center fielder Jaxon Becker after a run in a 4-2 loss to Olathe South on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

Whether it’s on the mound or in the batter’s box, Lawrence rising senior Hudson Hardesty gets the job done for his team.

It’s not completely uncommon for a high school’s best pitcher to hit, as baseball players at lower levels are still diversified in their skills and positions before typically whittling down to one position that best suits a specific skill set. But what makes Hardesty unique is just how dominant he is as both Lawrence’s ace pitcher and all-around hitter.

Hardesty made his case on a national stage over the July 4 weekend, where he and team Kansas won the High School Baseball National Championship Series against 17 other states. Across six games, he led Kansas in innings pitched and was second on the team in hits.

“I always just want to be able to contribute the best that I can,” Hardesty said. “Getting the hits really helped us give us the best chance to win.”

Finding ways to contribute to the team drives Hardesty, and that’s what he hopes he can prove to college teams this summer. He is being recruited and is talking to several programs, but he still wants to prove just how dynamic he is on a team.

“I still have to prove to them that I can do both things,” Hardesty said. “If I’m not producing at the other, then maybe it’s time to stop that and just focus on one. But I think it’s really cool that I’m going to be able to get the option to be a two-way player in college.”

Hardesty’s sophomore year is when he realized that he had a real shot at playing both ways in college. His abilities to pitch and hit became more widely recognized, and that invigorated his desire to do both at the next level. Continuing to find success in both facets has helped his recruitment.

It’s been a good summer in that regard. Along with representing his state at a national tournament, Hardesty has been with his summer ball team, and he believes he will finish his last season with the group on a high note. All of that along with his performance with Lawrence in the spring means he’s going into his final year of high school strong.

“It’s really picked up momentum in the last few days,” Hardesty said of his recruitment. “I just want to show them that I’m a competitor and I work hard. I want to win, and I want people to see that I’m going to go out there and give it the best I’ve got every time.”

Hardesty takes the fall off from baseball and instead dedicates his time to the football team. Once the winter rolls around, he shifts his focus back to baseball, where he works with several coaches over the course of months on pitches and his pitch locations. When that’s not happening, he’s at batting cages, getting extra offensive practice in.

While Hardesty is preparing for his eventual college baseball life, he’s just as focused on his final year with Lawrence. His goal for the team is to make the state tournament, and even with a younger team this upcoming season, Hardesty is dedicated to making it happen.

Hardesty has a lot of belief in the team and culture. He has been a leader both vocally and by example before, but now that he’s going to be a senior, his vocal leadership is ever more important. To Hardesty, that means setting the tone for the team right at the start of the season.

“It’s going to be a new team culture, and I think we have a chance to surprise a lot of people throughout Kansas,” Hardesty said. “We’re trying to win and create a different culture, because the last two years have not been what we want. No one wants to lose, but we want to try and be on the other side of that and bring Lawrence High baseball back to what it used to be.”

Hardesty doesn’t have a timeline on his college decision, but it’ll likely come before the high school season is over. Still, finishing his Lawrence career the right way before departing for college is important, and that means contributing to the team both on the mound and in the batter’s box. Helping his team win is, after all, why Hardesty plays baseball.

“It’s important … I can still go out and produce on the offensive side, and produce on the mound,” Hardesty said. “Just helping my team, giving them the best chance to win a baseball game.”