Mike Vukovcan Bracket play started this morning for all 3 of the Hopewell Youth Baseball All-Star Tournaments that are taking place this weekend.
The Hopewell 10-Year-Old team took on Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals at 10 AM.
The Vikings had to battle for all 6 innings but made a late comeback and pulled out a 7-3 victory. Hopewell trailed 3-0 going to the bottom of the 4th but the offense came alive and scored 7 runs in the 4th and 5th innings.
Before getting into how Hopewell scored their 7 runs, have to credit the job done by this morning’s pitchers- Lucas Strano and Eden Lingenfelter, who were outstanding.
Strano started the game and went 3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Lingenfelter pitched the last 3 innings, also allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (0 earned runs), 0 walks and struck out 4 batters.
The great pitching and defense behind them kept Hopewell in the game and allowed the team to rally late.
Bottom 4th Inning: Logan Giering started the comeback with a double to left field. Next up, Lucas Strano singled, which advanced Giering to third base. After Strano stole second base, Hopewell scored their first run as Sean Bain grounded out, which brought in Giering. On the play, Strano advanced to third and that was important because the next batter, Lingenfelter also grounded out which brought in Strano. Hopewell now trailed 3-2 after 4 innings.
Top of 5th Inning: Lingenfelter started this inning by recording a strikeout, which was followed by a groundout to Waylon Phillips at shortstop. After Seneca Valley got a single with 2 outs, the inning ended on a groundout to Giering at first base.
Bottom of 5th Inning: The five-run inning started with a walk to Breyson Hoth, followed by a single by Clay Magnone. Hopewell then tied the game on an RBI single by Cody Goble, which scored Hoth. The game was now tied at 3.
Tyler Berich then reached on an error but more importantly, it brought in Magnone and Hopewell led 4-3. Jack Holsinger then came to the plate and ripped a double to center, which brought in Goble. The good hitting continued as Bowen Smith also smacked a double to bring in Berich and Holsinger. Hopewell led 7-3.
Top of 6th: Things didn’t start well for Hopewell as Seneca Valley got their first two hitters on base, but Lingenfelter stepped up. The next SV batter flew out to Smith in center field. That was followed by a pop up to Magnone at 2nd base. Lingenfelter then finished things but striking out the last batter.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 7 SENECA VALLEY 3
This team has a bit of break before taking on BMP in the semifinals at 3 PM.
Good luck Vikings!
