IN GAME Final: Opelika beats Hoover, 4-3

By Tom Peavy

Published: May 16, 2008

MONTGOMERY - Opelika is one win away from a Class 6A state title.
Mike Love was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning, giving the Bulldogs a dramatic, 4-3, extra-inning victory over Hoover.
Opelika (42-2) will face off with Hoover Saturday at 11 a.m. in Game 2 with an if-needed Game 3 to follow.

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Live from Paterson Field in Montgomery.
No. 1 Opelika is taking on Hoover in Game 1 of the Class 6A state finals.
In a change of pace, Chase Dawson is pitching for Opelika in Game 1 instead of Zach Blatt
Hoover, Top 1st inning: Duston Daugherty infield hit, Harold Collins double to RF, Steven Glasgow RBI groundout 2B (1-0 HHS), Tyler Mims RBI groundout 2B (2-0 HHS), Sam Frost single LF, Brandon Perry (balk on Dawson - Frost to second) strikeout looking.
Hoover: 2 runs on 3 hits, 0 errors

Tyler Ray on the mound for Hoover
Opelika, Bottom 1st: Brooks Robinson strikeout swinging, Zach Blatt single to left field, Jonathon Campbell foul pop up 3B, Mike Love strkeout looking on three pitches (two foul ball, then K)
Opelika: 0 runs on 1 hit, 0 errors

Hoover up 2-0
Hoover, Top 2nd: Drew Burke walk, Jon Jon Bell strikeout swinging, Ryan Dunne doubleplay (Robinson flip to 2nd and Middleton taken out by Burke. Dunne called out on the play)
Opelika, Bottom 2nd: Drake Sasser groundout 2nd, Jake Crain groundout to shortstop, John Gunnels strikeout swinging
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors

Hoover up 2-0
Hoover, Top 3rd: Duston Daugherty strikeout swinging, Harold Collins walk, Stevan Glasgow hits into 4-6-3 double play
0 run, 0 hits, 0 errors
Opelika, Bottom 3rd: Matt Middleton leadoff single to left field, Chance Lawrence foul pop out 1B side, Brooks Robinson (Middleton steaks second) flyout to shallow RF, Zach Blatt RBI single centerfield scores Middleton, Blatt to second, Jonathon Campbell groundout to shortstop
1 run on 2 hits, 0 errors

Hoover up 2-1
Hoover, Top 4th: Tyler Mims infield single (Josh Magee pinch run), Sam Frost (Magee steals second, advances to third on throwing error) walk, Brandon Perry fly out to RF (runner doesn’t advance), Drew Burke squeeze bunt and Magee scores, Jon Jon Bell strikeout swinging, Ryan Dunne strikeout looking.
1 runs on one hit, 1 OHS error
Hoover leads 3-1
Opelika, Bottom 4th: Mike Love flyout to centerfield, Drake Sasser groundout, Jake Crain groundout to second base
0 runs on 0 hits, 0 errors

Hoover, Top 5th: Duston Daugherty lineout to pitcher, Harold Collins groundout to shortstop, Stevan Glasgow groundout to first base
0 run, 0 hits, 0 errors
Opelika, Bottom 5th: John Gunnels groundout to third base, Matt Middleton flyout to RF, Chance Lawrence strikeout swinging
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
At the end of five complete, Hoover leads Opelika, 3-1

Hoover, Top 6th: Tyler Mims strikeout swinging, Sam Frost infield single, error allows Frost to second, Brandon Perry (pick off to 2nd wild for error, Love throws Frost out at 3rd), Brandon Perry groundout to shortstop
0 runs on 1 hit, 2 OHS errors.  Hoover continues to lead 3-1
Opelika, Bottom 6th: Brooks Robinson leadoff single to left field, Zach Blatt hit by pitch, Jonathon Campbell RBI single to center field scores Robinson, Mike Love strikeout swinging, Drake Sasser strikeout swinging, Jake Crain groundout to third
1 run on 2 hits, 0 errors
After 6 complete, Hoover leads 3-2

Hoover, Top 7th: Drew Burke strikeout swinging, Jon Jon Bell double off the right-center wall, pinch hitter Robby Cramer groundout to shortstop, Duston Daugherty flyout to center field.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors
Hoover continues to lead 3-2
Opelika, Bottom 7th: John Gunnels first pitch infield single (Mark Luhta pinch runs), Matt Middleton strikeout swinging, Chance Lawrence RBI triple to left field ties the game, Brooks Robinson intentional walk, Zach Blatt intentional walk to load the bases, Jonathon Campbell liner to pitcher and doubles off Blatt at third to end the inning
1 run on 2 hits, 0 errors
At the end of 7, Opelika and Hoover are tied 3-3

Hoover, Top 8th: Harold Collins walks, Steven Glasgow sacfrice bunt, Tyler Mims singles to left field (Josh magee pinch runs), Sam Frost (Magee stolen base) intentional walk to load the bases, Brandon Perry hits into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.
0 runs on 1 hit, 0 errors
Opelika, Bottom 8th: Mike Love infield single, Drake Sasser pop foul out, Jake Crain groundout to second, John Gunnels strikeout swinging, stranding Love.
0 runs on 1 hit, 0 errors
At the end of 8 innings the game is still tied 3-3

Hoover, Top 9th: Drew Burke lineout to 1B, Jon Jon Bell groundout to 1B, Ryan Dunne flyout to shallow RF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Opelika, Bottom 9th: Matt Middleton first pitch, hit by a pitch, Chance Lawrence two-strike bunt foul and out, Brooks Robinson (Middleton steals 2nd) bloop single to LF, Zach Blatt intentional walk to load the bases, Jonathon Campbell pop foul to catcher, Mike Love hit by pitch with bases loaded, scores a run and ends the game

FINAL: Opelika 4, Hoover 3 in 9 innings