Mike Vukovcan SOUTH SIDE– After earning the No. 1 seed on Saturday, the Hopewell 10-Year All-Stars first opponent this morning in the South Side Summer Slam Classic was West Mayfield.
After defeating their two opponents on Saturday by a combined score of 24-2, although the final score didn’t look like it, West Mayfield gave Hopewell a battle.
The difference in the game was the 3rd inning in which Hopewell scored 6 runs, 5 of which came with 2 outs.
Hopewell went to the bottom of the 3rd inning leading only 3-2 but that’s when their bats went to work.
Declan Lavia got things started with a double to left and he advanced to third on the throw from the WM outfielder. Lavia then would score on a 1-out groundout by Lucas Strano to increase Hopewell’s lead to 4-2.
After Eden Lingenfelter reached on a hit by hit and Waylon Phillips doubled, Bowen Smith drove them both in on a single, Hopewell increased their lead to 6-2.
Next up, Clay Magnone singled to right field to drive in Smith, Hopewell 7-2. Then with the bases loaded, Jack Holsinger broke the game open with a double to center, scoring Magnone and Tyler Berich, Hopewell 9-2.
With a 7-run lead, Hopewell just needed to get solid pitching and that’s what they got. Lucas Strano relieved Holsinger in the 1st inning and went on to pitch 2.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run, while striking out 2. Magnone then pitched the last two innings, allowing only 1 hit, 0 runs and striking out 4 batters.
For the game, the trio of Holsinger, Strano and Magnone limited West Mayfield to just 5 hits and 3 walks.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 11 WEST MAYFIELD 3
This 10-year old team will return to action in the semifinals at 3 PM to take on the winner of Ambridge vs. North Fayette.
