Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP– Coach Morgan Singletary’s team entered the week knowing the task ahead of that.
Because of their slow start, the Hopewell Vikings needed to put together a string of wins and it needed to start by gaining a sweep of Hampton.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
They got off to a good start yesterday with an 8-1 win and were looking for a repeat performance this afternoon as junior Kingston Krotec went to the mound trying to duplicate the performance of David Medich.
Mission accomplished as Krotec pitched a complete game and the Vikings bats once again were hot which led them to a 7-4 victory. Hopewell has now won 3 games in a row, their first 3-game winning streak since the end of the 2023 season.
Krotec pitched 7 innings, allowing just 5 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 1 walk and struck out 3 batters. Offensively, Hopewell collected 10 hits and were led by the top of their order. 1-2-3 hitters Krotec, James Armstrong and Charlie Smetana went 6-for-12 with 5 RBI.
*Krotec received help in the field from his teammates, especially in the outfield with Armstrong, Ben McDonald and Payton Korker, who were outstanding.
GAME RECAP:
*Top of the 1st: Kinger pitched a 1-2-3 inning, getting two flyball outs to Armstrong and Korker.
*Bottom of the 2nd: Hampton scored a run in the top of the 2nd, but the Vikings came back swinging by putting up 4 runs in the bottom of the frame. Hopewell’s first 2 batters reached base via a single by Logan Triscila, a walk to Drew Donovan and then James Gill came through with an RBI single by taking a pitch to right field, Triscila scored, and the game was tied at 1. After loading the bases and then grounding into a 1-2-3 double play, it looked as though Hopewell was going to have to settle for just one run. However, the Hopewell hitters came through with some clutch 2-out hitting.
It started off with an RBI single to left field by Jake Knobloch, which scored Gill. Hopewell led 2-1. Krotec followed that with a single to left field, scoring McDonald. Hopewell led 3-1. Armstrong then laid down a bunt single up the third base line which scored Knobloch, Hopewell led 4-1. Smetana then capped things off with a hard single to right field, scoring Krotec. Hopewell took a 5-1 lead.
Hopewell’s Charlie Smetana
*Top of the 3rd: For the second time in three innings, Krotec pitched a 1-2-3 inning following a groundout to Drew Donovan at SS, a pop up to Triscila at 1st base and a fly out to Armstrong in left field.
*Bottom of the 4th Inning: Like they did in the 2nd inning, Hopewell immediately answered after Hampton scored. Hampton cut the lead to 5-3 but with 1 out, Krotec once again singled, which was followed by an RBI double to left field by Armstrong. Hopewell led 6-3. In the last 4 games, Krotec has been Hopewell’s best hitter. Armstrong advanced to third on a wild pitch and would score on a dropped third strike. Hopewell once again led by 4 runs, 7-3.
*Top of the 5th Inning: Another 1-2-3 inning and McDonald was the man for Hopewell as he caught 3 consecutive line drives to center.
*Top of the 6th Inning: Hampton’s leadoff hitter reached in this inning, but nothing happened after that as McDonald caught another fly ball, Triscila took care of a pop foul to first base and Krotec ended the inning with a strike out. Hopewell continued to lead 7-3.
Hopewell’s Kingston Krotec
*Top of the 7th Inning: Krotec entered the final inning with only 70+ pitches thrown so he was good to go back out there to finish. Following a leadoff single, Krotec retired the next 2 batters on a fly out to McDonald in center field and a groundout to Donovan at short stop. Hampton added a 4th run on an RBI single but fittingly the game ended on a fly ball to McDonald in center.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 7 HAMPTON 4
WINNING IS FUN!!!
Hopewell has clearly gotten themselves back in the playoff race and after the weekend off, will have a huge series starting on Monday against Central Valley.
