By: Daniel Cooley
STRYKER – Montpelier sophomore Madelyn Hopper fanned a career high 16 batters and allowed just one hit, as Montpelier cruised past Stryker, 12-2.
“It feels pretty good (to get the career high),” Hopper said. “My go to pitch tonight was all fastballs. This was our first league game, so it was good to get off to a good start.”
Hopper struck out the first six batters she faced and nine of the first 11 hitters. Stryker’s Sage Woolace’s two out single in the fourth inning ended Hopper’s no-hit bid.
“Hopper is just a sophomore and keeps getting better,” said Montpelier head coach Andy Robinson. “Tonight, she was locating the ball well and when she does that, she’s hard to hit.”
By the time Stryker got its first hit, Montpelier had a 7-0 advantage. Montpelier tallied one run in the second on Bianca Phongphiou’s RBI single.
The Lady Locomotives then tacked on four more runs in the third inning, beginning with Hopper’s bases loaded walk. Three more runs then scored on a Montpelier fielding error.
Montpelier’s sixth and seventh runs came in the top of the fourth inning, on RBI singles from Kelsie Bumb and Hopper.
Hopper helped her own cause in the game with two singles and three RBIs.
Montpelier then scored its final four runs in the top of the sixth inning on RBI singles from Kaycee Humbarger and Hopper.
Three more runs then scored on a Stryker fielding error, bringing Montpelier’s lead to 12-0.
Stryker finally pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. A Montpelier error and a walk started the inning.
Then, after two strikeouts, Woolace also struck out, but the ball got away from the catcher and the throwing error that allowed Woolace to be safe at first, allowed Stryker to score two unearned runs. Fittingly, the game ended on Hopper’s 17th strikeout.
“It’s always good to start out the conference season with a win, because every league contest is going to be tough,” Robinson said.
“And we’re playing better. We are starting three freshmen this year, but the team is coming together, and everyone is doing their part.”
MONTPELIER 014 205 – 12 8 2
STRYKER 000 002 – 2 1 4
Records: Montpelier 4-2 (1-0 BBC), Stryker (0-5, 0-1 BBC)
WINNING PITCHER: Hopper (6 innings, 1 hit 2 runs, 0 earned, 17 strikeouts, 1 walk)
LOSING PITCHER: Rethmel (5.1 innings, 10 runs, 5 earned, 7 hits, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks) Other: Meyer
LEADING HITTERS: (Montpelier) Hopper – 2 singles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; J. Uribes – single, 2 RBIs; (Stryker) Woolace – single
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com