Mike Vukovcan There’s no way to sugarcoat things, the Hopewell bats are struggling to start this 2025 season.
This afternoon, Hopewell traveled to Beaver and dropped a 4-1 decision in which they were held to just 4 hits. The Vikings drop to 0-4 and 0-2 in the section.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
In their 4 losses to start the season, Hopewell’s offense has produced only a total of 3 runs and 12 hits.
Junior Kingston Krotec got the start and pitched a complete game, allowing 9 hits, 4 runs, walking 1 and striking out 3 batters.
After allowing 4 runs in the first two innings, Krotec settled down, got in a grove and was effective for the next four innings.
Things started out well as Hopewell scored in the first inning as Logan Triscila drove in Charlie Smetana with a 2-out RBI single.
After Beaver tied things up in the bottom of the first, Hopewell looked as though they were going to regain the lead in the second inning.
Brody McCullough, James Gill and Jake Knobloch all singled so Hopewell had the bases loaded with 1 out but were unable to bring anyone home.
In the top of the 3rd, Triscilla reached on an error and advanced to 3rd with 2 outs but was stranded on third.
After that, Hopewell didn’t threaten again as they were set down 1-2-3 for the last 4 innings of the game.
After a couple of much needed two days off, Hopewell returns to action on Friday when they host Chartiers Valley in a non-conference game.
