(From Hopkinsville) The regular season champion Hoptown Hoppers wrapped up the post season championship with a rousing 7-6 win over Fulton Monday night in Hopkinsville.  The Hoppers scattered 10 hits to the Railroaders 9, scoring 5 runs in the first 3 innings, and adding 1 in the 5th, and 1 in the 8th as Fulton tried to snap back but fell one short in the final stanza.

     Hoptown set the momentum in the bottom of the first when Philip Menou crushed a 3-run homer over the right field fence, driving in both Brett Pirtle, who had singled, and Jake Sandlin who walked.  The Hoppers took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Bancroft walked, Kaleb Brown sacrificed him to 2nd with a bunt, Matt McGowan's grounder to shortstop was picked up but the throw to first sailed over first, scoring Bancroft.  The Hoppers then went up 5-0 in the third inning when Menou singled, Fernando Tanaka doubled, sending Menou to 3rd, and then Menou scored on Nolan Fisher's ground out.

     Fulton made it 5-1 in the 5th when Mikee Moore drew a one-out walk, advanced on a balk, then scored when first-baseman Menou under-tossed a slow grounder by Joe Mike to second baseman Matt McGowan who was covering first and the  ball rolled away.  Still in the 5th, Mike stole second, and then scored on Quinton Alexander's double.  Brandon Shaw's single pushed Alexander to 3rd; he then scored when Hoptown catcher Brad Sevenish threw the ball wide on Shaw's second-base steal, making the score 5-3.

     In the bottom of the 5th, Hoptown took a 6-3 lead following Tanaka's deep grounder to short for a single, and then stealing second base.  Fisher drew a walk, with Tanaka stealing third on the ball four pitch, and Seth Bancroft's sharp single to left center field scored Tanaka.  With Fisher on third, Brown lined out to second base and Bancroft was doubled up off first base.

     The Hoppers added another run in the bottom of 7th for a 7-3 lead when, with 2 outs, Tanaka drew a walk, stole second, followed by Fisher being hit by a pitch; then Bancroft hit a slow roller off relief pitcher Brock Downey, the second baseman pulling his teammate off first base as Bancroft reached safely and Tanaka crossed the plate.

      Fulton made it 7-4 in the 8th when Cash drew a walk and advanced to second on Rick Linton's single—Linton pinch-hitting  for starting catcher Billy O'Connor—and scored on Mikee Moore's double.  Linton tried to score on the same double to center field, but a relay to Pirtle who fired the ball home to Sevenish cut him down at the plate.

     Hoptown tried to add more insurance in the 8th when McGowan singled and advanced to second on a throwing error, but Pirtle's attempted bunt sacrifice popped out easily to Fulton's catcher.  Sandlin then singled to centerfield, advancing McGowan to third; then Sevenish drew a walk, but Menou hit into a double play to end the threat.

     In the top of the 9th, Eric Manning, pinch hitting for Joe Mike, was thrown out at first after a dropped third strike by catcher Sevenish.  Alexander then walked, followed by a Shaw double to right field that was misplayed by Tanaka, allowing Alexander to move to third.  Hogenkamp then made the second out on a long fly to centerfield, but Burrage's double, again misplayed by Tanaka who dove for the ball, allowed both Alexander and Shaw to cross the plate.  With the score 7-6 and 2 outs, Cash grounded out to shortstop Pirtle who easily threw him out at first, handing the Hoppers the post-season championship in their first season of the modern era.

     Hoptown starter Will Hammock threw for 4 1/3 innings with no decision, Kyle Spencer came to the mound pitching for 3 2/3 innings and gets the win. Philip Menou earned the save closing out the final inning. Fulton starter Tyler Saltsman takes the loss going 6 2/3 innings, Brock Downey closed out for the final 1 1/3 innings.