Hudson's way

All Seth Hudson wanted four years ago was a chance to play Division I baseball.

The Cape Girardeau native found it at Murray State -- and he has made the most if it.

Hudson is wrapping up an impressive college career that has seen him start since his freshman season and evolve into one of the Ohio Valley Conference's premier players.

"It's been a lot of fun," Hudson said.

Hudson ranks third in the OVC with a .383 batting average. He was also first in triples with six, third in hits with 75 and sixth in on-base percentage at .448.

Hudson's six triples are 21st nationally, and they have him just one away from Murray State's single-season record. His 11 career triples are also one off the school mark.

In addition, Hudson ranks third all-time at Murray State in hits and seventh all-time in runs scored.

"It's been a great ride the last four years," said Hudson, a second baseman who also has seven doubles, 30 runs batted in and a team-high 40 runs scored. "I really wouldn't change anything."

Except, perhaps, the Thoroughbreds' record. They entered were just 17-31 heading into a Tuesday game against Kentucky that was postponed by rain.

"The only thing, I wish our record was a little better," he said.

But the Thoroughbreds are a respectable 11-11 in OVC play, which has them fifth in the 10-team conference. The top six finishers qualify for next week's OVC tournament in Paducah, Ky.

The Thoroughbreds finished last in the OVC a year ago and missed the tournament. They have not yet locked up a berth, but one win this weekend during their final league series against visiting Jacksonville State should do the trick.

"That's what you ask for, a shot in the tournament," Hudson said."I feel like we have a pretty good chance to get in."

If the Thoroughbreds don't, it certainly will be no fault of Hudson's.

He started the season relatively slow -- by his standards -- and was hovering around .300 in late March when Murray State hosted Southeast Missouri State.

A little more than a month later, Hudson found his average at .404, which ranked among the top 50 nationally, although he has since cooled off just a bit.

"It was just one of those things where it seemed like everything I hit fell in," the good-natured Hudson said with a laugh. "I thought I would get on a tear and I did.

"It was great. The ball looks so big and you have so much confidence going."

Hudson never lacked for confidence, even when others didn't believe in him. That was probably mostly because of his size. Hudson is listed as 5-feet-9, but might not be quite that tall.

After earning all-state honors at Central High School, it looked for quite a while like Hudson would be forced to continue his baseball career at either a junior college or a Division II program.

But Murray State finally entered the recruiting mix and he jumped at the opportunity.

Hudson has proven to be quite a catch for the Thoroughbreds.

After struggling some at the plate during his freshman season, Hudson batted .336 as a sophomore, then hit a team-high .385 last year to make second-team all-OVC, although his season was cut short by a broken wrist suffered in mid-April.

While obviously proud of what he has accomplished, Hudson said it was never about proving people wrong.

"It's just a matter of believing in myself," he said. "My size turned a lot of people away, but I always knew if I had a chance, I could excel. I just wanted a chance.

"I feel fortunate to be able to play Division I baseball, and the decision I made to go to Murray State was a good decision. They showed a lot of faith in me, and it being close enough to home where my parents could come see me play was a big thing. I owe everything to my dad [Roger]. He taught me everything I know."

After earning second-team all-OVC honors last year, Hudson figures to have a solid chance at making the first squad this time.

"I wouldn't say that's a goal, but if the coaches and whoever votes on it think I'm good enough, it would be great," Hudson said. "But my main goal was to have fun."

He again emphasized that he's had plenty of that -- and he hasn't ruled out continuing his baseball career as a professional, although Hudson knows the odds are against him.

"Any baseball player wants to keep playing. I hope somebody gives me a shot," said Hudson, who has played the past few summers in Cape Girardeau with the Capahas. "There's a good chance it won't happen, but there's always a chance it will."

Even if it doesn't, Hudson is prepared for life after baseball. The honors student who majored in biology has been accepted into Logan College, a chiropractic school in St. Louis County.

"If I'm not playing [pro] baseball, that's where I'm going," Hudson said. "Either way, I don't think I can complain."