Hoppers top Chiefs, face red-hot Henderson tonight

The two hottest teams in the Ohio Valley League will meet tonight when the Hoptown Hoppers travel to take on the Henderson Flash. 

The Hoppers won their third straight game Monday night with an 8-5 victory over the Paducah Chiefs in front of 441 fans at Tiger Field. 

Hoptown and Paducah exchanged leads through the first four innings. 

The Chiefs (8-5) scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 advantage, but the Hoppers answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. The big hit was a two-run double by Dom Hartman, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the game. 

Hoptown starter Brady Leonard went six innings, striking out five and scattering five hits. Former University Heights Academy star Jaiden Miles pitched two innings of scoreless relief. 

Chance Sweeney went 3-for-4 with three runs and Ryan McCartan and Reed Hayes collected a pair of hits each for Hoptown, which improved to 10-3 on the season. 

Nathan Bodenberg took the loss for the Chiefs, who fell to third place in the league standings. 

The Hoppers now lead the OVL by 1 ½ games over Henderson. The Flash routed Madisonville 10-2 Monday night and are 9-5 this season. 

Hoptown’s next home game is Wednesday night against Fulton. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. with first pitch set for 6:15 p.m. 

Score by Innings: 

Paducah   011 200 001 – 5 8 2 

Hoptown   120 300 02x – 8 11 2 

WP – Leonard (6 IP, 5 SO, 1 BB). 

LP – Bodenberg 

Leading Hitters: Hoptown – Sweeney (3 1B), Hartman (2 2B, 3 RBI), Mealer (1B), McCartan (1B, 2B), Hayes (2 1B), Johnson (1B). 

File Photo