Senior Ethan Bicksler had 3 hits and Jacob Brandon enjoyed a strong night on the mound and at the plate in Todd County Central’s 14-4 season-opening victory over visiting Hopkins County Central. The win is the first time since 2015 that the Rebels started a season 1-0.
Todd Central starter Jameson Hunt worked around a Hopkins Central double in the 1st and led off the bottom of the inning with a single. The Rebels took advantage of a hit by pitch, an error, and two walks to push 3 runs across.
The Storm got one back in the top of the 2nd, but Todd Central led 5-1 after a Brandon RBI double in the bottom of the frame. Hopkins Central pulled to within 2 runs after an RBI single by Chase Brasher in the 4th, however, the Rebels blew the game open in the bottom of the 5th for a 10-4 advantage. Preston Rager, Bicksler, and Nate Reding each singled to set the table in the 5-run inning.
The Rebels put the finishing touches on the win in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI double by Brandon and a sacrifice by Austin Shadrick to trigger the mercy rule.
Todd Central outhit the Storm 12-8, making a single error to Hopkins Central’s 2. Hunt got the win with 4 innings of work, yielding 4 runs, 2 earned, on 7 hits. He struck out 5. Brandon allowed a single hit and a walk and struck out 6 to finish the game.
Truman Ballard started on the mound for the Storm and lasted 2 innings. He gave up 5 runs, 3 earned, on 5 hits, with 3 walks, and a pair of strikeouts. Loren McKinney pitched the final 2.3, allowing 9 earned runs on 7 hits. He walked 7 and struck out 3.
Brandon drove in 4 and was one of four Rebels to collect a pair of hits, joining Hunt, Rager, and Reding. Bicksler had 3 hits, with Shadrick and Will Kearns each driving in 2 runs.
Todd Central will look to move to 2-0 on Tuesday when they host Fort Campbell. The Falcons were 25-0 losers to Hopkinsville in their opener.
Hopkins Central jumps right into 7th-District play when they travel to Princeton to face Caldwell County on Tuesday.
