The Hoptown Hoppers have advanced to the Ohio Valley League West Division championship after defeating Madisonville 17-4 Saturday to sweep the two-game game series. The Hoppers set a team record for runs scored and margin of victory in a playoff game.
The Hoppers wasted no time in grabbing the lead, scoring four runs in the first inning and seven more in the third.
After Jacob Jenkins singled home Micah Genter in the first inning, Charlie Fischer cracked a three-run homer to left for a quick 4-0 lead.
Chandler Kendall got in on the home run fun in the third inning with a two-run shot to left. Jenkins later added a three-run homer to right for an 11-0 lead.
Cameron Hill’s three-run homer in the fourth inning put the Hoppers ahead 14-0.
Jenkins later added a two-run double to complete his three-hit, five-RBI night.
Kendall finished with three hits and four RBIs, and Fischer and Hill each had three runs knocked in. Cade Burkey added three hits and two RBIs.
The Hoppers rapped out 18 hits in the game, with every starter logging at least one hit. Seven of the 18 hits went for extra bases.
Zach Losey was the beneficiary of the Hopper offense, allowing just one hit in five shutout innings of work.
Hoptown will play either Fulton or Paducah in the West Division Championship Monday at Hopkinsville High. Paducah beat Fulton 10-3 to even their best-of-three series at one game each. The deciding game will be played Sunday in Paducah.
The Hoppers were 3-2 against Paducah during the season and 2-2 against Fulton.
Elsewhere, both Henderson and Dubois County moved on to the East Division Championship. Henderson beat Franklin 10-4 to win their series 2-0, while the Bombers eliminated the defending OVL champions Owensboro 14-4 to finish off the sweep.
