For the first time this season, the Hoppers were awarded with two off-days in a row. Pending delays, in the month of June, the Hoppers are scheduled to play every day with the exception of Monday.
That turned out not to be the case, as the Hoppers played a make-up game on Monday against the Fulton Railroaders. Tuesday’s game was then postponed due to rain, and the Wednesday contest was eliminated from the schedule after the Owensboro RiverDawgs disbanded right before the season.
During the brief break some players went golfing, some played basketball, and others went swimming. Nonetheless, the main focus for the Hoppers was rest.
On Thursday night, it seemed that some days off were exactly what the doctor ordered for the Hoppers, as they defeated the Muhlenberg County Stallions 5-4.
One concern for the Hoppers in their extended break playing one game in four days, was that their pitching could come at fault.
That idea turned out not to be the case as the pitching staff for Hoptown managed to allow 6 hits, 3 earned runs and 13 strikeouts.
Wilburn was the winning pitcher after throwing for 4 innings, and was followed by 4 other Hoppers on the mound.
Defense was key for Hoptown as they forced Muhlenberg County to leave 14 runners on base in the contest.
The Hoppers managed to get 11 hits on the evening from a combined total of 8 players. Robert Estrada led the squad with 3 hits, being followed by Manuel Villalobos with 2 hits.
The Stallions struck first in the top of the fourth inning scoring one run off a wild pitch from Hopper pitcher Caden Wilburn.
The Hoppers then managed to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth all coming after already having two outs.
The Stallions made it a 3-run ballgame, after scoring another run in the 5th inning but Hoptown swung back in the next inning putting 2 runs on the scoreboard.
It was a bit of the scare in the top of the ninth inning as they saw a 5-2 lead shrink to 5-4 after Muhlenberg Co. put up two runs.
Pitcher Chase Gruno was the man who put all Hopper fans to ease as he sealed the victory via strikeout.
The Hoppers (6-10) will travel to take on the Paducah Chiefs on Friday night at 6:30 PM to be followed by a Saturday matchup at 6:30 PM with the Chiefs back at Colonel Field.
The Hoppers will also be in action at home on Sunday at 6:00 PM in a game that will be free admission thanks to the Hopkinsville Rotary Club.
All home games can be heard on WHOP’s 99.3 FM/1230 AM and on whopam.com.