The game was played at Warren field in Marietta, Ohio, on Saturday June 20, 2026. After falling behind 4-1 the Hippies went to work pounding out five runs in the sixth to get the win and finish their season with a 14-1 record and the Pioneer Valley Girls Softball Organization Championship. The New Martinsville based squad picked up their first win in the tournament by defeating River 9-0 in a Quarter final contest. They followed that up with a big win in semi-final action over St. Marys 8-6, sending them into the championship game as the higher seed and home team.

The Home Run Hippies finished second in the spring season PVGSO regular league with an 11-1 record, to advance to the playoffs.

In the championship game TCYL had the lead, but in the bottom of the sixth the Hippies Ella Smith cracked a home run to make it 4-2 Tyler. Lydia Dotson then came to bat and hit an outfield single. Jenaya Thurmond was up next and added a hit to give the Hippies two on base. Kensley Cain then knocked one in the outfield for a base hit to bring in Dotson and Thurmond and tie the score at 4-4. With one out Judy Dotson stepped up and hit an inside the park home run scoring herself and Cain for the final score of 6-4 and the celebration was on.

The Hippies are coached by Cam Dotson, Sabrina Elswick, and JT Thurmond. The NM 8-U Home Run Hippies were scheduled to be announced on stage at the Back Home Festival of Friday Night at 6pm. They will also be attending the Charleston Dirty Birds, Field of Dreams Experience. The Hippies ended their season with a record of 14-1. 143 RF, 34 RA. and 20 total home runs

The Home Run Hippie Roster: #3 Lydia Dotson; #42 Jenaya Thurmond; #7 Judy (Mia) Dotson ; #24 Kensley Cain; #11 Olivia Renner; #1 Emery Smith; #9 Lucy Davis; #12 Maci Beaty; #23 Charlotte Croft; #8 Kendra Glover; #13 Mia Rosenlieb; #37 Lennon Metz; #21 Ella Smith