Mike Vukovcan CENTER TOWNSHIP– The Hopewell 11-Year-Old All-Star squad started their first tournament of the summer as they began play in the Central Valley Tournament.
The Vikings got off to a perfect start as they defeated South Fayette, 9-7 in game one and followed that up with an impressive 16-4 win over Bethel Park.
Hopewell vs. South Fayette Recap:
Hopewell got out a 9-3 lead and despite giving up 4 runs in the final inning, were able to hold onto a 9-7 win.
Tremendous job on the mound today by Connor Eiler, who pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 runs (0 earned runs) and striking out 3 batters. Declan Lavia pitched the next 2 innings, who allowed just 1 hit, 1 run (0 earned runs) and struck out 3. Zac Seech came on in the 6th inning to close the game and struck out 2 batters.
Bottom of 1st: After South Fayette jumped out to a 2-0 lead, Hopewell quickly answered and took the lead. Things started as Seech singled in Lavia to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then with 2 outs, Reagan Haring came through with a big RBI single which scored Seech to tie the game. That was followed by an RBI single by Gannon McNally to give Hopewell a 3-2 lead.
Top of 2nd: Eiler had an easy next half inning as things started with a line drive out to Lavia at 2nd, then a ground out to Seech at shortstop and the final out on a fly out to Michael Ambrose in center field.
Top of 4th: Lavia came on to pitch the 4th and pitched a scoreless inning. The first out came on a ground out to Seech at shortstop. Things then got interesting, but Lavia stood tough. South Fayette got a runner to third with 1 out but Lavia got the next batter to pop up to Eiler at 3rd base and Dec ended the inning with a strikeout. Hopewell led 3-2.
Bottom of 4th: Hopewell then added to their lead as Eiler and Haring singled to start the inning. Next batter, McNally put the ball in play by grounding to first, which scored Eiler and Hopewell extended their lead to 4-2. With Haring at 3rd, Hopewell continued to play solid fundamental baseball as Ambrose grounded out to third, which allowed Haring to score, and Hopewell led 5-2.
Top 5th: Those insurance runs were important because South Fayette scored to make it 5-3 and had runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 out but Lavia shut things down with another strikeout. Hopewell led 5-3.
Bottom of 6th: Hopewell manufactured a few more runs in the bottom of the 5th to extend their lead to 9-3 and needed them as SF cut the lead down to 9-7. However, Seech stayed calm. With the tying run at second base and 2 outs, Seech ended the game with a strikeout.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 9 SOUTH FAYETTE 7
Hopewell vs. Bethel Park Recap:
This game wasn’t as close as Hopewell needed only 4 innings to defeat Bethel Park, 16-4.
Hopewell’s batters combined for 12 hits, with 5 players getting 2 hits apiece- Michael Ambrose, Declan Lavia, Zac Seech, Reagan Haring and Owen McGovern. RBI getters for the Vikings were McGovern leading the way with 3, Haring with 2, Eiler with 2, Gannon McNally with 1, Zac Seech with 1 and Declan Lavia with 1.
Hopewell jumped out to a 12-0 lead after 3 their first 3 at-bats and iced the game.
With all this offense it made things comfortable for Hopewell’s pitchers McNally and Leo Yannessa. McNally got the start and went 3 innings, allowing just 3 hits, 1 run and striking out 1. Yannessa closed things out by pitching the 4th inning.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 16 BETHEL PARK 4
Great job guys and good luck tomorrow!
