Mike Vukovcan SOUTH SIDE- The Hopewell 10-Year Old All-Star team is one win away from winning the South Side Summer Classic.
Hopewell followed up a win over West Mayfield in the semifinals by defeating Ambridge, 7-3, in the semifinals. The Vikings will now take on Fort Cherry in the championship game.
Ambridge scored two runs in the top of the 1st inning but Hopewell bettered that with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame.
Declan Lavia got Hopewell on the board first with an RBI single to left to bring in Jack Holsinger. Then with 1 on and 1 out, Lucas Strano doubled to center field, scoring Cody Goble. Hopewell added another run on a double play to take a 3-2 lead after one.
Ambridge tied the game in the top of the 3rd but once again Hopewell answered, this time with 2 runs.
Jack Holsinger, who’s been very productive from the top of the order for Hopewell, drove in Tyler Berich with an RBI single to put Hopewell back on top, 4-3. Holsinger then came around to score when Lavia came through with a line drive double to left field. Hopewell led 5-3.
That was all Hopewell needed because their pitchers blanked the Bridgers the rest of the game.
Clay Magnone was on the mound in the top of the 4th and Ambridge looked to be in business. Following a single, error and wild pitch, the Ambridge leadoff batter was on 3rd base with 0 outs. But Magnone didn’t flinch as he struck out the next batter for the first out. Then great defense by Hopewell got them out of the inning. The Ambridge batter hit a line drive to left field that Sean Bain caught and then fired it to third base to double off the runner who was breaking to the plate as he thought the ball was going to drop.
Bain then helped out Hopewell with his bat as he singled in Eden Lingenfelter in the bottom of the fourth to give Hopewell a 6-3 lead. Then with 2 outs, Magnone came through with a clutch 2-out RBI single to drive in Bowen Smith, Hopewell led 7-3.
In the top of the 5th, more good Hopewell defense. The second out of the inning came on a nice catch in center field by Smith. The inning ended as catcher Declan Lavia threw a bullet down to Holsinger at short stop to gun down the Ambridge runner attempting to steal.
Hopewell went to the top of the 6th needing 3 more outs to advance to the championship game and Magnone was rock solid. After the Ambridge leadoff hitter singled to lead off the inning, he was quickly erased on a fielders choice, Goble to Lingenfelter at second base. The second out occurred on a pop up to Lavia at shortstop. The game then ended on a pop up to Lingenfelter at second base.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 7 AMBRIDGE 3
WINNING IS FUN (especially in tournament)!!!
Good luck Hopewell in the championship game!
