The Full Count Rhythm got all the runs they would need in the first inning and advanced past the Hoptown Hoppers into the Ohio Valley League championship series with a 6-3 win on Wednesday night at Christian County High School’s Colonel Field.
The regular-season champion Rhythm scored four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning against former Hopkinsville High School pitcher Gavin Powell. The big hit came from Trace Simmons, who had a two-run single.
Powell settled down after the first inning and held Full Count scoreless until the sixth when Charlie Bozeman and Blake Carter hit back-to-back home runs to push the Rhythm lead to 6-2.
Former Hoptown star Jacob Dilday relieved Powell and pitched two scoreless innings before giving way to Gabe Eddington in the eighth.
The Hoppers cut the lead to 4-1 in the third inning as Cole Reynolds singled and scored on a double by Dom Bello.
Chance Sweeney cut the advantage to 4-2 with a solo home run to start the fifth inning and Reynolds looked to have gone back-to-back, but the Rhythm’s Bozeman reached over the left field fence and brought his homer back.
Hoptown scored its final run of the night when Reynolds led off with a double and came around to score on a single by Myles Denton.
However the Rhythm’s Ryan Sweeney shut the door on the Hoppers in the final two innings to get the save.
Powell suffered the pitching loss and Roman Petricca picked up the win.
Reynolds went 3-for-5 to lead Hoptown’s offensive attack. Bello, Grady Broughton, and Denton also had a pair of hits for the Hoppers.
The Rhythm will play either Paducah or Fulton in the championship series. Fulton blasted the Chiefs 10-3 Wednesday night to tie their series. Game 3 of that series is tonight in Paducah.
Score by Innings:
Full Count Rhythm 400 002 000 – 6 13 1
Hoptown Hoppers 001 010 100 – 3 10 2
WP – Petricca
LP – Powell
Leading Hitters: Hoptown – Reynolds (2 1B, 2B), Bello (2B, 1B), Denton (2 1B), Broughton (2 1B), Sweeney (HR).
File Photo