After a nearly two-year absence, Ohio Valley League Baseball returned to Hopkinsville Friday as the Hoptown Hoppers lost its season opener to the Full Count Rhythm 7-3.
The Hoppers won the 2019 OVL championship but the 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID-19.
The Rhythm, based in Hendersonville, Tenn., is the OVL’s newest franchise. However, they looked the part of a veteran team with a three-run first inning.
Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Ben Brooks, who plated the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, Two Hopper errors led to two more runs and a 3-0 Full Count lead.
The Hoppers got on the board in the third inning when Tanner Holliman singled home Riley Garczynski, who led off the inning with a single.
Hoptpwn tied the game in the fourth on consecutive bases-loaded walks that chased pitcher Tyler Sills from the game.
The game stayed tied until the eighth inning thanks to a solid relief effort from former Trigg County standout Arlon Butts. He pitched four innings of scoreless relief. However, things began to unravel in the eighth. With two on and two out, Jackson Hannon doubled home two runs and Sam Slaughter followed with a single.
Campbell Cleveland relived Butts and gave up an RBI double to Lara.
Offensively, the Hoppers managed just five singles but left 12 runners on base. They also were the victim of several sharp balls hit right at the Rhythm defense.
Butts struck out three and allowed four hits – three of them in the eighth inning. He was tagged with the loss.
Ryan Webster got the win in relief. He allowed one hit in just under four innings of work.
Hoptown returns to action Saturday night at 7 against Paducah.
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