The Hoptown Hoppers started their 2018 season with a powerful 8-1 start. They came back down to Earth, following it up with an 8-13 record in their next 21 games. However, they’re starting to click at the right time with just eight days left in the regular season.
Hoptown traveled to Henderson for one of their final three road games of the season to claim victory over the Flash, 10-3.
The win marked the Hoppers’ third straight and the second they’d scored double-digit runs during that stretch.
For the second straight game, Hoptown struck first. Blake Jackson continued his case for the OVL’s best player by doubling to drive in both Cole Cummings and MJ Rookard.
With his team leading 2-0, Jackson took the plate again in the third. He sent his league-leading 14th dinger over the fence to score Cummings, too.
The offense then became contagious, as Cord Johnson drove in Nick Proto on a sac-fly and a throwing error by Henderson scored Aidan Elias.
Hoptown gave up a run in the bottom of the third but kept pounding in the fourth when Rookard went yard and Proto doubled to score Jackson and extend their lead, 8-1.
The Flash tried to spark some momentum with two runs in the bottom of the fourth but their offense was cut off there.
Johnson sent a bomb over the fence in the seventh and Proto followed suit in the eighth for the final two Hopper runs.
Kyle Turner picked up his second win of the season, going six innings to fan five and give up just five hits and three runs.
Travis Hennessy took the loss, giving up six runs in just 2.1 innings.
Jackson’s stellar night was one of many this summer. His home run and four RBI extended his OVL lead in both categories.
Proto had his best game of the season, going 4-5 at the plate for two singles, a double, a HR, two RBI and as many runs scored.
With nine games left in the regular season, the Hoppers (19-14) are heating up at just the right time. Before their current three game win streak, it had been over two weeks since they scored double-digit runs.
Hoptown will have an off-day on Wednesday before hitting the road once more on Thursday. They’ll travel to Muhlenberg for a 7 P.M. start.