The Hoptown Hoppers maintained their OVL West lead by splitting their double header with the Owensboro Riverdawgs. Hoptown took the first game, 10-8, while Owensboro won the second, 11-5.
While both games were at Colonel Field, the Owensboro RIverdawgs were technically the home team in the first of two games against the Hoptown Hoppers.
The Riverdawgs owned home-field rights due to a rain-out in Owensboro earlier in the season.
While they were referred to as the “home team,” however, the Hoppers made the Riverdawgs aware of whose field it really was.
Hoptown’s Cole Cummings, MJ Rookard and Blake Jackson quickly loaded the bases in order.
Nick Proto then put the barrel to the ball for his first grand slam of the season.
Leading 4-0, the Hoppers refused to settle. Cody Hartness and Cord Johnson went back-to-back with dingers of their own for a 6-0 lead.
Before the Riverdawgs could get their offense to the plate, Rookard saw action for the second time in the inning to drive in Max Remy with a single.
Leading 7-0, Hoptown did give up a leadoff homer to Owensboro in the bottom of the inning.
However, the Hoppers quickly got back to work in the second as John Michael Reed walked with the bases loaded to score Proto and Matt Keane scored on a wild pitch.
A two-run shot by Owensboro, followed by another run drove in cut Hoptown’s 9-1 lead to five.
Johnson fired right back in the third, though, with a single to center that scored Jackson.
The Riverdawgs put up three more in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 10-7 and a run in the bottom of the seventh before Ethan Clark came in to record the save.
Trey Fields earned the win for the Hoppers, going two innings to strike out four. Proto led the way on offense, hitting 3-5 with two singles, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
Despite the offensive explosion, the Hoppers’ fell short of carrying their momentum over to the second game.
Hoptown gave up a leadoff homer to immediately trail 1-0.
While the Hoppers managed a 3-run first to take the lead, the Riverdawgs responded with an 8-spot in the top of the second to stun the fans at Colonel Field.
They added a run in each the third and fourth to reach 11 runs.
Hoptown’s 2-run homer from newcomer Chandler Skelly sparked the crowd but fell well short of a rally and the Hoppers took the loss, 11-5.
Hoptown (20-19) will hit the road on Tuesday to travel to Fulton (15-24) before returning home to host Madisonville in the final regular season game.
A win in either game will clinch the OVL West division, meaning home field until the OVL Championship.