Since the spring of 2015, this week’s Athlete of the Week, senior captain Aiden Kuhle, has been a driving force behind the Dolphin Varsity Baseball program’s success. Whether on the mound, at the plate, on first base, or in the outfield, Aiden commands the attention of opposing coaching staffs, players, and fans, while earning the respect of his teammates, coaches, and community. This past weekend, the culmination of all Kuhle brings to the table was on full display in a dominant performance from the mound.

“Aiden’s efficiency on the mound against Collegiate School this past Saturday is a testament to the work he puts in throughout the offseason. He has always possessed talent, but Aiden continues to demonstrate improvement year after year. The entire coaching staff has witnessed Kuhle’s dominance on the mound throughout his career, but Saturday was a special outing. Collegiate needed five innings to figure him out, and even after breaking up the no-hitter in the fifth inning, Aiden made a small adjustment and remained unhittable,” Head Coach Tim Hummel said of Aiden Kuhle.

Cape Henry Collegiate’s Varsity Baseball currently boasts a 2-1 record after splitting a weekend series with Collegiate this past week. However, in the first game of the double-header, the Dolphins relied on the stellar outing on the mound from senior Aiden Kuhle to best the Division I State Championship contender. Aiden provided just this and more. Kuhle dominated Collegiate’s lineup for eight innings, collecting a remarkable 10 strikeouts and dealing only two walks. More impressive than the 10 strikeouts and two walks, Aiden conceded just a single hit while holding the powerful lineup scoreless. Aiden’s leadership on the mound and in the dugout eventually led to a 1-0 victory in what became a complete game, one-hit shutout for a remarkable start to the senior captain’s outings on the mound in 2019.

“Aiden has awed opposing teams, his peers, and coaches for years with his sheer size on the field. However, those who know Aiden, know he is arguably the kindest student-athlete to step foot on the diamond. While he is kind, Aiden understands how to flip the switch and compete in every aspect of baseball. He is the consummate leader. Whether win or loss, poor-performance or great performance, Aiden always finds a way to elevate the performance of the program and his teammates,” Coach Hummel continued of Kuhle.

Behind Aiden’s leadership and five years of exceptional play on Varsity Baseball, the Dolphins have amassed a 51-36 record, and Kuhle’s career stats prove he is arguably one of the best to don Red, White, and Grey on the diamond. At the plate, Kuhle has accumulated a career batting average of .269, going 43 for 160 and gathering an on-base percentage of .400. Combined with 27 career RBIs, 32 runs, 23 walks, and four home runs, Aiden is equally as dominant at the plate as he is on the rubber. On the mound, he has thrown 105.2 innings, earning a record of 12 wins, seven losses, and one save en route to a 3.05 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, 120 strikeouts, and only 44 walks. With his journey just beginning in 2019, the exceptional talent that is Aiden Kuhle will continue his baseball career for the Maroons of Roanoke College next year.

“It has been a remarkable journey for the Dolphins and Aiden Kuhle. The entire coaching staff has thoroughly enjoyed his commitment to Dolphin Baseball. Watching him grow, mature, and lead, not only as an athlete but also as a person has a special place in our program,” Coach Hummel finished of Aiden. “He works so incredibly hard at his craft. His talent, work ethic, and attitude have afforded him the opportunity to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level next year, and on behalf of the Dolphin Baseball program, Aiden will be sorely missed.”

The Dolphins will continue to rely on the size, strength, speed, and skill of Aiden Kuhle on the mound, in the field, and at the plate, as the Dolphins make a run at the Division I State Championship in 2019. The Dolphins will play three games in two days, ending in a weekend series against perennial contenders St. Christopher’s School and Steward School on Saturday. Before traveling to Richmond for the second weekend in a row, Aiden will lead the Dolphins with his bat against Annapolis Area Christian School tonight beginning at 4:30 pm.