‘Meet the Hoppers’ to kick off 2026 baseball season

A week from today, the Hoptown Hoppers’ 2026 season will begin as the team plays host to the Madisonville Miners at Hopkinsville High School’s Tiger Field.

It will be a “White Out” with Hoppers’ fans encouraged to wear a white shirt to the game, which will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Before that first game, the community will get a chance to Meet the Hoppers at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Camo Caravan in downtown Hopkinsville.

Hoppers’ board member Jared Stevens was a guest on Friday’s Early Bird Show Friday and said Meet the Hoppers is a great way to kick off the season.

This year’s team will include several local high school players including University Heights Academy’s Hayden Hunt and Jaiden Miles and Christian County’s Gage Montes. Hunt has signed with Indiana State while Miles has inked with Tennessee Wesleyan University. Montes will play his college baseball at Freed-Hardeman.

Former Hopkinsville High School star Gavin Powell, who played for the Hoppers last season, also is returning to the Hoppers this season.

In addition, some crowd favorites from last year including Konnor Scheidt, Chance Sweeney, and Heath Henley are returning.

Stevens said the club is having some special nights again, including “Shirt off Your Back Night” on July 11, to help with attendance this summer.

Opening night is free, sponsored by White’s Auto Mall. On nights when there is no sponsor, tickets will be $7.

Chris Benne returns to coach the team this year and all home games will be played at Hopkinsville High School. Monday thru Saturday games will start at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday night games begin at 6 p.m. All home games will air on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.