October came early for the Hoptown Hoppers as Malik Blaise walked it off against the Paducah Chiefs in Game 1 of the OVL Semifinals for a 6-5 win.
Caldwell County standout Shane Burns got the start to only give up three runs in five innings.
While Hoptown found themselves trailing out of the gate, the offense responded with a 3-spot in the bottom of the second.
First, John Keane singled to score Cord Johnson. Then, MJ Rookard lined a hard single to right that scored both Blaise and Keane to take a 3-1 lead.
While Paducah got one back in the third, Hoptown’s John Michael Reed scored on a fielder’s choice in the fourth to clap right back.
The Chiefs decided to keep it in volume, scoring a run in the fifth to make it 4-3 Hoppers.
A quiet sixth was the calm before the storm, as the Chiefs rocked a 2-run double in the seventh to suddenly take the lead.
However, a RBI-single by Max Remy in the bottom of the seventh scored Nick Proto to tie it up at five a piece.
The Hoppers had their chance again in the eighth, this time to take the lead, but a base running mistake held them just short.
After a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning from the Hopper bullpen, Blaise stepped to the plate to score Davis Keller and win the game.
Hassan “Dr. West” Westbrook earned the win in the ninth inning, striking out two of the three batters he retired to ultimately give Blaise the chance for the walk-off single.
Mason Vineyard took the loss.
Blaise was bigger than just the walk-off, going 2-3 at the plate for two singles, a RBI and a run scored. He also drew two walks. Proto was also key, pinch hitting for Aidan Elias, going 2-2 for a single, double and a run scored.
The Hoppers move to 3-0 this postseason following their first round sweep of Madisonville. They’ll be on the road tomorrow in Paducah for Game 2 of the semifinals.
A Hopper win will clinch a berth to the Championship series while a Hopper loss will force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday at Colonel Field.
First pitch for Tuesday night’s game is set for 7 P.M.