Hopper throws shutout to down BND

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Senior also drove in game-winning run with a 5th inning double

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - Matt Hopper said he pitched the best game of his high school career Tuesday night amongst the rain drops.

The senior hurler threw a 3-hit shutout, striking out eight with 72% of his pitches falling for strikes, in a 1-0 win over Burlington Notre Dame in Fort Madison.

"This is the best game I've ever pitched in high school. I don't think I've ever not given up a run in varsity," Hopper said following the gem.

Hopper came on in relief Monday night in Mt. Pleasant in the night cap of a double header to a runner with a 3-2 count. One pitch in and Hopper walked the hitter. On his fifth pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, a ground ball was misplayed in the infield, allowing the winning run to score.

Head Coach Ron Walker said Hopper put that game behind him very efficiently.

Notre Dame's Eli Oleson tries to wrangle a ball that bounced on a throw from deep short in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 1-0 Bloodhound win as Landes Williams beats the throw back. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

"He came out and pounded the zone tonight right from the start - fastball, fastball, fastball. I don't think we threw a curve until the 6th inning. He was doing well with his change up and keeping them off balance," Walker said.

"We put him in a tough spot last night facing a batter with a 3-2 count and that's just the way it works sometimes. He was kinda bummin', but that wasn't on him, it was on me and he came back out and answered the bell tonight."

Hopper was at 72 pitches through six innings and took the mound in the top of the seventh holding just the one-run lead. Hopper struck out Logan Brent, Lucas Johnson, and Isaiah Crow, all swinging, to secure the win.

"This is my first start. I've only pitched two innings before this. I'm throwing a lot harder this year than I did last year. I just feel a lot better out there and have a lot more confidence."

Hopper has also shown confidence at the plate of late going 2 of 4 in Monday's second game and went 1 for 3 Tuesday with a double to deep right field in the fourth inning that scored Aidan Pennock with the winning run.

The Hounds mustered seven hits against senior Jackson Brent, who went the distance for the Nikes. Brent struck out 11 Hounds and walked just one in suffering the loss.

Fort Madison put two on in the 5th with no outs. Landes Williams singled to shallow left to open the inning and moved to second on a long throw to first that bounced away from first baseman Eli Oleson. Kane Williams then moved Landes over with a bunt for a single. Williams swiped second but then Tate Johnson and Tanner Settles each struck out and Jordan Simpson hit an infield fly to end the inning.

Walker said those missed opportunities could plague the Hounds.

Landes Williams waits for a throw in the top of the third inning Tuesday in Fort Madison as Burlington Notre Dame's Carson Chiprez slides into second safely. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

"We've gotta do a better job with strikeouts. We had 10 the first night out, and the second night we had just a couple, and then last night we weren't so good in the second game in putting the ball in play. We need to quit overthinking and trust our approach," Walker said.

"We haven't done a very good job of executing yet. Last night we had bases loaded, nobody out, and couldn't score. Tonight we have 2nd and 3rd with no outs and can't score. We have to take advantage of those situations - which is our kind of baseball."

Walker said he's been happy with Simpson's production at the plate. Simpson went 2 of 3 Tuesday night after going 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI in Monday's doubleheader.

"He's been platooning in the outfield, but we DH'd him game two last night because he had great at bats in the first game. He's been a great surprise and doing a good job competing in the box."

The Hounds (4-1, 1-1) travel to Fairfield for another Southeast Conference matchup Thursday. Notre Dame falls to 1-3 and 1-2 in the SEI Superconference South and travels to Danville Thursday.

athletics, baseball, Bloodhound baseball, bloodhounds, boys baseball, Burlington Notre Dame, FMHS Bloodhounds, fort madison, Fort Madison Bloodhounds, Hounds, iowa, lee county, Nikes, Pen City Current, scores, sports, varsity

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