Mike Vukovcan WASHINGTON-The Hopewell Vikings baseball team just completed a taxing 2-game series against Beaver, with another big section series coming starting on Monday against Ambridge.
Sandwiched in between those two series was a non-section road game last night against Chartiers Valley.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
No matter the sport, there’s always a game where it’s just one of those games and a team just doesn’t have it that particular night. Last night was that game for Hopewell as they lost to Chartiers Valley in a slugfest 21-11.
In the big picture, it’s not a big deal because it wasn’t a section game and is the case in every game, there were some positives to take from last night.
A&S Federal Credit Union are proud sponsors of Hopewell Boys and Girls High School, Junior High and Youth Sports.
POSITIVE TAKES FROM CHARTIERS VALLEY GAME:
*For the second straight game, the Hopewell offense was a plus as they reached base 16 times (9 hits and 6 walks). If this team is going to achieve their goal of making the playoffs, generating consistent offense will be the key. 8 of the 10 batters last night collected a hit.
*Sophomore 2B Collin Davis led Hopewell with 2 hits, including a double to left field in the 2nd inning. Entering last night’s game, Davis had been making good contact with the ball but had been a bit unlucky and those at-bats didn’t result in any hits. It’s good to see his hard work paying off and hopefully last night’s game will get him on a hot streak at the plate.
*Sophomore Outfielder Jayvion Lindsey got his first start of the season and came through with an RBI single in his first at-bat.
This game was on the heels of a good JV performance by Lindsey on Thursday. With 7 seniors graduating, next season Lindsey will have his opportunity to shine.
*The top of the Vikings lineup did their job of producing runs. Â James Armstrong. Drew Donovan, Kingston Krotec and Charlie Smetana were on base 8 times, scored 6 runs and drove in 8 runs.
*Armstrong continued to be productive at the top of the Hopewell lineup. In 3 games this week, he combined for 5 runs, 3 hits, 4 walks RBI and 2 SB.
*Having the responsibility of being the #3 or cleanup hitter brings with it the pressure of providing offense and driving in runs. To this point, Smetana has done his job. In Hopewell’s first 3 games, Smetana has 4 hits (double), 1 walk and 5 RBI.
Looking ahead to next week, the Vikings will have games on Monday and Tuesday against Ambridge followed by a non-section game on Thursday vs. Avonworth.
