Mike Vukovcan After having the Hopewell 7-, 8- and 10-year-old All-Star teams take part in their first tournament last weekend, the Vikings 9-year-old squad have begun their first action of the 2025 season.
The 9-year-old squad has begun action in the South Park Fastballs and Freedom Tournament.
On Thursday, Hopewell took on Upper St. Clair along with host South Park and ended up going 1-1. In Game One, Hopewell defeated USC, 13-3 and then lost to South Park, 10-9.
HOPEWELL VS. UPPER ST. CLAIR-
In opening game which lasted only 5 innings, Hopewell dominated USC in every aspect of the game. Hopewell outhit USC, 16-3 and their pitching was also outstanding.
Maddox Kennedy got the start and went 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 runs, while striking out 5 batters. Jordan Peck pitched a perfect 3rd and 4th innings, didn’t allow a hit or a run, while striking out 3 batters. Bennett Beron closed things out, giving up 1 hit, 1 run, while striking out a batter.
Hopewell’s offense scored runs in all five innings and after USC scored 2 in the top of the first, the Vikings scored the next 11 runs of the game.
Taking a look at the winning box score, Quinn Zappas paced the way with 3 hits, while five hitters had 2 hits apiece- Peck, Aaron Ackerman, Beron, Jonah Honess and Tristyn Trkulja.
Hopewell RBI getters were- Brody Benson 1, Peck 1, DJ Towler 2, Ackerman 2, Beron 2, Kennedy 1, Honess 1, Zappas 2 and Trkulja 1.
HOPEWELL 13 UPPER ST. CLAIR 3
HOPEWELL VS. SOUTH PARK
South Park jumped out to an early lead and looked as though they were going to run away with this one but that wasn’t the case. After trailing 10-3 in the 4th inning, Hopewell battled back to close the deficit to one run and were in position to win but fell just short.
Both teams collected 6 hits and drew a bunch of walks- Hopewell with 11 and South Park with 13.
Offensively for Hopewell, Maddox Kennedy led the way with 2 hits and 3 runs scored, while Honess picked up 3 RBIs and Deacon Ankrom had 2 RBIs.
SOUTH PARK 10 HOPEWELL 9
After a day off to celebrate the Fourth of July, action in this tournament will resume today and best of luck to Hopewell!!
