(From Hopkinsville) The Hoptown Hoppers strolled to a 5-0 shutout over the Marion Bobcats Thursday July 12th.  Philip Menou led Hoptown going 2-for-4 from the plate, batting in four runs including a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 4th.  Jake Sandlin had the other Hoppers' RBI and was 2-for-3 at bat.  Starting pitcher Clayton Dugan came through with 7 1/3 strong innings, giving up just 5 hits while striking out 6, walking 3.  Kyle Spencer also struck out 3 Bobcats in relief.

     Hopkinsville took the 2-0 lead in the 4th when Sandlin walked, Brad Sevenish bunted him to second base, followed by Menou's homerun.  The Hoppers went up 4-0 when Fernando Tanaka singled in the 5th, then advanced to third on Sandlin's single, with Sandlin advancing to 2nd when the outfield throw went to third base.  Sevenish was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, followed by a smash single by Menou that tipped off Greg Liming's glove at first base, scoring both Tanaka and Sandlin.

     The Hoppers wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the 8th when Seth Bancroft walked and scored on a huge Bobby Clark double.

     Dugan was consistent and sharp in his 107-pitch performance that raised the Hoppers to a 21-10 season record.