YSE File Photo
With the OVL playoffs looming, it was a big night Monday for the Hoptown Hoppers as they hosted the Madisonville Miners. The Hoppers broke open a tie game with a big five-run inning in the bottom of the eighth and came away with a 9-4 win at Christian County High School.
The game was tied at four in the bottom of the eighth inning when Sam Perkins hit a single, bringing in a run and giving the Hoppers the lead. Hoptown had loaded the bases on a walk, an error, and another walk to open the inning. Thomas Barnhart then crushed a grand slam to center to seal the win.
The Miners had opened the scoring in the first inning with a single from Dong Joon Shin, driving in a run. Madisonville extended the early lead to 2-0 thanks to a Hopper error. Shin added another RBI single in the sixth to push the lead to 3-0.
Hoptown combined three singles and three walks to rally for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Hoppers their first lead of the night at 4-3.
The Miners then tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for the Hoppers’ big rally in the bottom half of the inning.
Trent Youngeberg was the winning pitcher for the Hoppers, working one-third of an inning. Several relief pitchers, including Jacob Dilday, Francisco Paradis, Chase Gruno, and Cade Steiner, secured outs and contributed to the victory.
Jace Parnin took the loss for the Miners, giving up three runs on no hits in one and two-thirds innings, while striking out four. Schon Pespisa started the game for the Miners, pitching five innings and not allowing any runs on just two hits, with four strikeouts.
Cody Jones started for the Hoppers, giving up two runs on two hits in two innings, with three strikeouts.
Dom Oliverio led the Hoppers with two hits in five at-bats. Six other Hoppers had at least one hit in the game as the Hoppers outhit the Miners 9 to 8 for the game.
