Through the first few weeks of the TSSAA’s 2026 baseball season, the first four hitters in Hixson’s lineup have been having a lot of fun.
The opposing pitchers forced to deal with that group — and the rest of the batting order — have not.
Speedy sophomore Campbell Inman leads things off and is a threat to score any time he reaches base, and the Wildcats have an intimidating pair of 6-foot-4 power producers with junior Blayne Harbin in the two-hole and sophomore Kaleb Bailey in the cleanup spot, but the key to Hixson’s 12-3 start through Tuesday could be the fourth member of that quartet.
Batting third, Dallas Rucker has hit safely in all but one game for the Wildcats, whose dozen victories so far in Colton Green’s 13th season as head coach include impressive wins against McCallie and Jefferson County.
“Dallas has been lighting it up,” Green said of the senior catcher, whose .553 batting average (21-for-38) through Tuesday ranked second among TSSAA players in the Chattanooga area. “He and his brother (Charles), who is our shortstop and one of our aces, are great leaders and have started since they were freshmen. It’s fun to watch them together when they are battery mates. They have thrown to each other their entire lives.”