Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP- The Hopewell Junior High Softball team ended a 3-game losing streak with an impressive doubleheader sweep over Freedom.
The two wins were even more impressive considering they had to play both games without starting catcher and middle of the lineup hitter Lillian Otto, who was out with an illness. That speaks to the depth of this Hopewell team, which is impressive.
In Game One, Hopewell won by the score of 10-6 and followed that up with a 4-3 win in Game Two.
In the opener, Hopewell was able to score in every inning, while keeping the Lady Bulldogs scoreless in 3 of the 5 innings.
Leading the way offensively in Game 1 were Brooke Otto with 2 hits and an RBI, Alyssa Phillips with 2 hits, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored and Lily Cain with 2 hits and an RBI.
Phillips also did the job on the mound for Hopewell as she pitched all 5 innings, allowing just 5 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 9 batters.
GAME ONE RECAP-
Bottom of the First: Sam Holsinger led off the game with a walk and would come around to score on an RBI double by Abby Babinsack. Hopewell led 1-0.
Bottom of the Second: Freedom scored 4 runs in the top of the second, but Hopewell was able to chip away at the deficit. With 1 out, Phillips double to left field and then scored following an RBI single by Cain. Freedom led 4-2.
Top of the Third: Freedom looked to add more runs as they got runners on with 2 outs, but Phillips ended their hopes by ending the frame with a strikeout.
Bottom of the Third: Hopewell retook the lead with a big 4-run third inning. Babinsack would draw a walk and would score courtesy an error by Freedom. Next up, Otto laid down a bunt single, which brought in Izzy Mutkus. The game was now tied at 4. Following a walk to Lacy Soltis, Phillips came through with an RBI single to score Otto. Hopewell retook the lead 5-4. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and 2 outs, Holsinger had a tremendous at-bat, where she would foul off 7 pitches before eventually drawing a walk which brought in Phillips. Hopewell led 6-4.
Top of the Fourth: After her team got her the lead back, Phillips went out in this inning and set Freedom down 1-2-3: liner back to the mound, a strikeout and a groundout to Mutkus at 3rd base.
Bottom of the Fourth: Hopewell put the game out of reach with 4 more runs. Mutkus and Otto led off the inning with singles. After moving up to 2nd and 3rd, Mutkus stole home to give Hopewell a 3-run lead. Next up, Soltis came through with an RBI single to score Otto, Hopewell led 8-4. Hopewell would go on to score two more unearned runs to take a 10-4 lead.
Top of the Fifth: Freedom would score 2 runs to get within 4 runs but Phillips ended the game with consecutive strikeouts.
GAME ONE FINAL- HOPEWELL 10 FREEDOM 6
GAME TWO RECAP-
In Game Two, there wasn’t as much offense but behind a 3-run third inning, Hopewell was able to secure a 4-3 victory. This was a game where Hopewell needed the pitching to come through and Babinsack was able to step up and pitch 4 scoreless innings.
Top of the Second: Freedom jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and that’s when Babinsack entered in the second and shutdown Freedom the rest of the way. She punched out the first two batters and the third out in this inning came from a grounder to second baseman Alyssa Gray.
Top of the 3rd: Freedom still led 3-0 so Babinsack needed to stay strong on the mound. After striking out the first batter, the next two Freedom batters reached but Abby then recorded another strikeout and fielded a grounder back to the mound to end the third.
Bottom of the 3rd:Â With 2 outs, Hopewell went to work and put up a 3 spot. Mutkus singled and would come around to score on a grounder from Gianna Rossi which was ruled an error. Brooke Otto came to the plate and roped a double to center field, which brought in Rossi. That was followed by an RBI triple by Babinsack to score Otto. The game was now tied at 3.
Top of the 4th: Nice Hopewell defense in this inning. After the Freedom leadoff hitter walked, the next hitter hit a line drive to third baseman Mutkus, who caught it and fired across to Lily Enders at first for the double play. Babinsack then ended the inning with another strikeout.
Top of the 5th: The game went to the last inning tied and Babinsack set down Freedom 1-2-3 in the fifth, two of the outs coming on ground balls to Mutkus at third.
Bottom of the 5th: The Lady Vikings had a chance to end the game with a walk-off win and that’s exactly what they did. Mutkus hit a hard double to left field and after advancing to third on a passed ball, would score on a dropped third strike.
VIKINGS WIN 4-3!!
No rest for these ladies as they’re back on the field this afternoon when they travel to West Allegheny.
