The Hoptown Hoppers clinched the Ohio Valley League’s West Division on Wednesday night with a dominant 5-1 win over the Madisonville Miners. The game’s conclusion also clinched the Hoppers’ first round opponent: the Miners.
Hoptown is 4-2 against Madisonville this season, 3-0 at home and 1-2 on the road.
The Hoppers will have OVL All-Star and Las Vegas native Brian Coffey on the mound for Friday night’s Game 1 of the series.
Coffey is 5-1 on the season with a WHIP of 1.04. He’s collected a save as well. Coffey will be on seven days rest entering Friday’s game.
Hoptown’s success on offense will most likely have to start with the top of their lineup. It’s no coincidence that Cole Cummings (the leadoff hitter) finished second in runs with 39 while Blake Jackson (hitting third) finished first in RBI with 51.
Jackson also had 36 runs while MJ Rookard (hitting second) had 30.
That trio has been the head of the snake for coach Brock Moss’s offense and he’ll need them to show up Friday night.
Hoptown finished with a win but struggled down the stretch. They were inconsistent on both the mound and at the plate but when it mattered, Moss’s team got the job done.
As a coach that vies on leadership and intensity, it wouldn’t be a surprise to watch the Hoppers flip the switch tomorrow night.
Their opponent, the Miners, had the worst finish than any other team. They were 1-9 in their final 10 games and finished last in the OVL West. Madisonville was atrocious on the road (5-14) but even under .500 at home (9-11).
The Hoppers are the clear favorites going into the series and should come out victorious.
First pitch for all playoff games will be set for 7 P.M.
