Wednesday night in Hopkinsville called for the Hoptown Hoppers’ regular season finale at Colonel Field. The Hoppers played host to the Madisonville Miners, of which they defeated 5-1.
The game began with Kyle Turner setting the tone on the mound. Turner tossed five scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits.
Hoptown got on the board first when Cole Cummings sent his first dinger over the centerfield fence. His solo shot gave Turner a 1-0 lead.
It was a defensive duel until the top of the sixth when Madisonville quickly loaded the bases without any outs.
Turner was pulled and replaced by Caldwell County standout, and Murray State freshman to-be, Shane Burns. Burns recorded a fielder’s choice along with two strikeouts to strand the Miners and maintain the 1-0 Hopper lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, MJ Rookard scored off a balk and Cord Johnson drove in Nick Proto in the next at-bat.
Leading 3-0, Hoptown did surrender a run to the Miners in the eighth inning. However, Rookard responded in his next plate appearance with a monster home run that also scored Cummings.
Hassan Westbrook took the mound in the ninth to close the deal and Hoptown officially clinched the West Division.
Jeffrey O’Doherty took the loss, going two innings to give up three hits and a run.
Blake Jackson ends the regular season leading the OVL in homers with 15, RBI with 51 and slugging percentage at .750 (min. 40 AB).
The Hoppers finish the season a game above .500 at 21-20. Their record is good for the top seed in the OVL West division, granting them home field until the OVL championship. Their regular season finish also locks them up with a matchup with the Miners for the first round of the OVL playoffs.
The first round will begin Friday, with game 1 between Hoptown and Madisonville at Colonel Field. First pitch is set for 7 P.M.