Hoptown Hoppers head coach Brock Moss said on Wednesday that he was confident in the arm matchups he had against the Madisonville Miners in the first round of the Ohio Valley League playoffs.
The Hoppers took Game 1 thanks to Brian Coffey, Trey Fields and Hassan Westbrook dominating the mound and Cole Cummings giving the offense a spark with his bat.
On Saturday, the Hoppers traveled to Madisonville to try and close the deal. A win would give them an off-day on Sunday before the second round began on Monday. A loss would have them back at Colonel Field on Sunday for a decisive Game 3.
The Hoppers handled their business in a close one, edging the Miners, 4-3, to advance to the second round.
It was a tight first two innings before the Hoppers struck first in the top of the third.
Much like Game 1, the Hoppers took advantage of the Miners’ first mistake. This time it was John Michael Reed who scored on the Madisonville error to give Hoptown a 1-0 lead.
Madisonville didn’t waste any time tying the game back up with a run in the bottom of the third, but could only hold it there until the top of the sixth.
Nick Proto capitalized on another Miner mistake, scoring on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.
More mistakes by the Miners led to an extended Hopper lead in the top of the seventh, as Cole Cummings scored on another error for a 3-1 lead.
Malik Blaise added an RBI-single to score Proto for a 4-1 lead in the same inning.
Madisonville attempted a rally, going yard for two runs in the bottom of the seventh. However, they fell short in the final inning to end their season.
Holderfield earned the win, tossing six complete innings to fan six, allow just five hits and give up only one run.
Westbrook earned the save for the second straight game, pitching the ninth inning to strike out two and give up just one hit.
Chase Robinson took the loss for the Miners.
Leading the way for the Hoppers on offense was Nick proto, who has come on late as a clutch hitter for Hoptown. Proto went 2-5 for a single, triple and two runs scored.
Malik Blaise also game up big for the Hoppers, going 2-4 for two singles and the team’s lone RBI.
Hoptown will host the Paducah Chiefs on Monday at Colonel Field for Game 1 of the second round. Again, it will be a best-of-three series with Game 3 at Colonel Field (if necessary).
First pitch is set for 7 P.M. on Monday.