Grant Koch did something that a Hoppers' hitter hadn't accomplished in 12 years Friday night - hit three home runs in a game.The catcher, who came into the game with four home runs for the season, became the first Hoppers' batter to hit three in a game since Scott Cousins

As players learn and grow through their first full season of pro baseball, so does a manager.The Hoppers lost their home finale Thursday night, 7-0 to Rome, and were officially eliminated from any chance at making the South Atlantic League playoffs. But the result of this one game didn't spoil

Will Gardner was very nearly perfect Wednesday night.The right-hander was called on for the save against Rome and responded by striking out the side to nail down a 6-4 Hoppers win. He threw 10 pitches, and nine of them were strikes."He almost got an "immaculate inning,"' said pitching coach Stan

Pitching and defense is a hard combination to beat and the Hoppers used it to their advantage Tuesday night.After dropping a 1-0 decision to Rome on Monday, they bounced back to beat the Braves 3-0. Four pitchers combined for the shutout with Steven Jennings picking up his seventh win of

There are still seven games to play in the South Atlantic League season, and Hoppers manager Miguel Perez expects his team to compete hard in every one."We want to finish on a positive note," he said, after his club dropped a 1-0 game to Rome Monday night. "Whatever happens with

A shutout is always a source of pride for a pitching staff.The Hoppers delivered one Saturday night, blanking Augusta 7-0. It was the staff's 10th shutout of the season and fourth at home."A shutout is a shot in the arm," said pitching coach Stan Kyles. "And it makes the pitching

You want pitching? The Hoppers delivered a lot of that Friday night.Clutch hitting? They were able to provide some against the best pitcher in the South Atlantic League.Drama? Well, you had to see the bottom of the ninth inning when the Hoppers scored against a gimmick defense to beat a

It's one thing for a pitcher to have a game plan but quite another to execute it to near perfection.That's what Neo Toribio did for the Hoppers Saturday. The right-hander, only 19 years old, was absolutely dominant in six innings of work, retiring the first 16 Asheville batters he faced

There's nothing quite like a low-scoring, one-run baseball game.Tension. Drama. No room for mistakes, especially late."It's fun to have those kinds of games," said Hoppers manager Miguel Perez.Even more fun when you win, which the Hoppers did by 2-1 over Asheville Friday night.It was a big turnaround from Thursday's game,

Jack Herman likes being a little different.When he comes to the plate for the Hoppers, for instance, his walk-up music isn't a fast-paced piece to get his adrenaline pumping. Instead, it's the smooth, jazzy, old-time Big Band sound of Michael Buble singing "Feeling Good."And that certainly applied to Herman Friday

Keep it simple.Sometimes baseball players forget that basic rule and become their own worst enemies. Just ask Hoppers' outfielder Justin Harrer.Harrer continued his hot hitting Wednesday afternoon with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored to lift the Hoppers to a 3-2 win over Asheville."I had

With three of their best hitters promoted to Bradenton, it was only natural to believe the Hoppers might have some trouble getting hits and scoring runs.That hasn't turned out to be the case. Even with Rodolfo Castro, Lolo Sanchez and Mason Martin gone, the lineup has continued to rake. The

Luke Mangieri had a one-word answer when he was asked about his first impressions of Greensboro."Hot," he said after a sweltering Tuesday night in which he helped the Hoppers beat Hagerstown 9-3.That's also an apt description of the way he's hitting. In six games since he joined the team, the

Kyle Mottice is one of those hitters who just has a knack for finding the open spaces in a defense."I just try to hit the ball hard and I've been lucky enough to find some holes," he said, deflecting any praise.Well, there's a bit more to it than that, of

The monsoon rain that swept through First National Bank Field Sunday was a surprise, but the news after the game's cancellation was not.The Pirates promoted Mason Martin, the Hoppers' slugging first baseman, to High A Bradenton.It was inevitable after the numbers Martin, only 20 years old, put up here. In

The post-game fireworks looked a lot brighter for the Hoppers Saturday night.Some of them saw the extravaganza after the game on July 4, but it was more watching than enjoying after they lost an 11-10 game they knew they should have won.Saturday, though, they sprinted out of the tunnel to

A celebratory day turned into something more akin to "no joy in Mudville" Thursday night, at least in the Hoppers' dugout.

A split season is a curious thing in the minor leagues.The calendar says it's a new season in terms of wins and losses and a chance to make the playoffs by winning the second half. But for the players, it's business as usual."The numbers say it's a re-start, but we

Wednesday will bring another day and another scheduled baseball game for the Hoppers.

CLEARWATER, FL-Eric Krupa, president of the South Atlantic League, has announced the rosters for the 60th Annual SAL All-Star Game,scheduled to be played on June 18, 2019, at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia, home of the West Virginia Power.For the Northern Division, the Delmarva Shorebirds placed eight players

Closing games is not something Braedon Ogle ever thought he would be doing, nor is it something he will necessarily be doing down the road.But as long as he's in that role, he's having fun.The hard-throwing left-hander recorded his third save Sunday afternoon as the Hoppers beat Lakewood 4-3. It

Some players might feel rusty at the plate after a month between games.But not Connor Kaiser Thursday night. He was activated off the injured list and inserted in the lineup at shortstop, then went out and collected four extra base hits and five RBIs as the Hoppers held on for