Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP– The Hopewell 10-Year-Old All-Star opened up play tonight in the Hopewell Tournament as they took on Seneca Valley.
The matchup tonight was two evenly matched teams, but the difference ended up being the quality depth of Hopewell’s pitching and some timely hitting by the Vikings.
Lucas Strano got the start and did a quality job going 2.2 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 3 runs (0 earned runs) and struck out 2 batters. Eden Lingenfelter and Sean Bain relieved Strano and the duo was outstanding.
Lingenfelter relieved Strano in the 3rd and got the key out of the game. He went on to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings striking out 4 batters. Sean Bain was called upon the preserve the win in the 6th inning and did the job.
GAME RECAP:
Top of 1st Inning: Strano had an easy 4-pitch first inning. After fielding the first out at the mound, Strano got the next two outs on a pop up to Waylon Phillips at shortstop and a fly ball to Bowen Smith in center field. 0-0.
Top of 2nd Inning: Another scoreless inning for Strano as he struck out the first batter and then the second out on a ground out to Cody Goble at 3rd. Then with 2 on, Strano ended the inning with a strikeout.
Bottom of 2nd Inning: The Vikings got on the scoreboard in this inning. Bain did a nice job of 2 strike hitting with an opposite field single to right field. Lingenfelter then hit a sharp single to right field and with some nice base running, Bain made it to third and Lingenfelter advanced to second on the throw.
With 2 on and 0 out, Phillips did his job of getting the ball in play as he grounded out to shortstop but scored Bain. Hopewell led 1-0. With 2 outs, Lingenfelter scored from third on a throwing error by the SV catcher. Hopewell led 2-0.
Top of 3rd Inning: After some sloppy Hopewell defense, Seneca Valley scored 3 runs and were threatening to break the game open. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Lingenfelter was then brought in to prevent SV from scoring anymore and Eden did that with a huge strikeout. Seneca Valley led 3-2.
Bottom of 3rd Inning: Hopewell didn’t trail for long added a run in the third. Jack Holsinger led off with a single and quickly stole second base. Next up, the dangerous Logan Giering hit a hard groundball to the second baseman then went for an error. On the play, Holsinger scored, and the game was tied at 3-3.
Top of 4th Inning: Thanks to some outstanding defense, Hopewell kept Seneca Valley scoreless in the 4th. With one on and 2 out, a Seneca Valley batter hit a single to center field. The runner on 1st attempted to advance to third base but he was gunned down as Bowen Smith threw a rope to third base and Cody Goble made the catch and put down the tag. Game remains tied at 3.
Bottom of 4th Inning: Hopewell was able to score the game-winning runs in the 4th inning. Lingenfelter led off the inning and reached on an error which was followed by a single by Phillips. After Hopewell executed a double steal, Lincoln Cumpston came through with an RBI single, scoring Lingenfelter. That proved to be the game-winning hit. After that, Hopewell added an insurance run as Phillips stole home. Hopewell 5-3.
Hopewell’s Lincoln Cumpston
Top of 5th Inning: With the way Hopewell was pitching, a 2-run lead was all they needed. Lingenfelter had an easy 5th inning as she went on to strike out 2 batters.
Top of 6th Inning: The Hopewell coaching staff brought in Bain for the final inning. Bain struck out the first batter swinging. Out No. 2 came after a ground out to Goble at 3rd base. Cody was outstanding tonight. After Seneca Valley recorded a 2-out single, Bain ended their chances by recording a strikeout to end the game.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 5 SENECA VALLEY 3
The 10-Year-Olds will return to the field early tomorrow as they take on Riverside at 9 AM.
