(From Hopkinsville) Hoptown Advances to Championship Round. In the rubber game in the semifinal series between the regular-season champion Hoptown Hoppers and fourth-seeded Marion Bobcats came down to a brilliant pitchers' duel on Friday, with the Hoppers pushing across runs in the sixth and eighth innings to forge the 2-0 win.

     Philip Menou got the complete-game win, allowing no runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one. The last 12 batters were retired, with the game ending on a double-play.

     All but equal to the task was Marion's Caleb Luttrell, who retired the first nine batters he faced. He ceded two runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking four, also pitching a complete game.

     Hoptown broke the scoreless deadlock in the sixth inning when Rob Friedlein led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Jake Sandlin.

     In the eighth inning, the Hoppers scored again when Matt McGowan led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a single by Seth Bancroft.

     Bancroft went 2-for-3 to lead the Hoppers. Brett Pirtle picked up a double in the fourth inning for Hoptown, the only extra-base hit of the game. Greg Liming went 2-for-4 to lead the Bobcats.