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.
Established in 1986, family owned and serving the Beaver County community for over 40 years. Serving breakfast favorites and lunch specials.
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.
