Tyrone senior three-sport athlete Ashton Walk added to his impressive high school athletic resume by becoming the first Tyrone varsity baseball player since stats have been officially recorded to collect 100 career hits.
Walk already owns several career passing records in football, including the single-game passing record, career touchdown record, and career passing yards record.
At the plate, Walk has a career batting average of .401 throughout four years as a varsity starter. He reached the 100 hit milestone with at least four games remaining in the season.
The national high school batting average is around .250. With about 80 at-bats per season, a four-year starter batting the national average would end their career with just 80 hits.
Walk’s 100th hit came in a 9-2 victory against the Penn Cambria Panthers on Tuesday, April 29.
Walk stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning and delivered a double in the left center gap, scoring a run, and igniting cheers from his fans, coaches, and teammates.
A senior shortstop, Walk has been a cornerstone of the team since his freshman year.
Known for his consistency at the plate and leadership in the dugout, Walk’s 100th hit adds to an already impressive baseball career that includes a first-team all-conference and two second-team all-conference honors.
“Ashton has been a natural hitter from the time he came up in ninth grade,” said head coach Kevin Soellner. “He never tries to do too much and just hits it where it’s pitched. I’m very proud of him.”
Walk’s achievement sets a new standard for Tyrone baseball and inspires future generations of Golden Eagles. With at least four games left in the season and hopes for a deep playoff run, Walk’s career is far from over.
“One hundred career hits is a big accomplishment and I’m blessed to achieve it with the group of guys I have by my side,” said Walk, “but the only goal I’m focused on is for us to win the district title.”
Even though Walk is the first Tyrone player to reach this milestone, he could have company before the season ends.
Fellow senior Landon Hamer has 87 career hits with four regular-season games and the playoffs remaining. If Hamer keeps his impressive .429 batting average up, 100 hits are also possible for him if Tyrone makes a deep playoff run.
Other athletes have been close. Tyrone alum Keven Lehner had 70 hits in just three seasons but lost his senior year due to COVID.
Walk has committed to playing football at Clarion University in the fall.
Whether it’s his 100th hit or the next one, Ashton Walk swings with the weight of school pride on his shoulders and a legacy that’s just the beginning.
