Mike Vukovcan The Hopewell Vikings baseball program entered this season with a simple goal- qualify for the 2026 WPIAL playoffs.
After missing out the last 2 seasons, both the players and coaches in the program knew that they had both the talent and senior leaderships to accomplish that goal.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
Five months of dedicated conditioning, work and performing on the field has resulted in Hopewell finishing in second place in the ultra-competitive Class 4A/Section 1.
In the last section game of the season, Hopewell defeated Blackhawk convincingly, 11-1 (6 innings). With the win Morgan Singletary’s team has a record of 13-5 and 8-4 in the section. They have one last game as they take on West Allegheny on Thursday at Washington Wild Things Park (7 PM).
With the 13 wins, Hopewell has their highest win total since 2023 and could surpass that considering they still have at least 2 games remaining. The 8 section wins was their most since 2022.
HOPEWELL BASEBALL’S RECORD LAST SIX SEASONS
2026: 13-5, 8-4
2025: 5-14, 4-8
2024: 9-10, 4-6
2023: 14-12, 4-6 (WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP)
2022: 16-8, 9-1
2021: 18-6, 9-1 (WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP)
Hopewell will find out their playoff matchup when the WPIAL releases the playoff bracket on Friday afternoon.
Looking back at yesterday’s game, a number of players contributed to the win but as has been the case all season, Hopewell’s starting pitcher was the story of the game.
Senior left-hander Ben McDonald took the mound and in his last regular season game, he was outstanding. McDonald went 6 innings, allowing just 5 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 5 batters. McDonald continued to display his power at the plate as he belted his team-leading 5th HR of the season.
Vikings Offensive Highlights:
–Charlie Smetana– 2 for 3 with a run, RBI and a walk.
–Logan Triscila– 1-3 with 3 runs scored, walk, HBP and RBI.
–James Gill– 2 RBI, run
–Ben McDonald– 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR
–Jake Knobloch– 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, walk
HOPEWELL/BLACKHAWK GAME RECAP:
Bottom of 1st: McDonald strikes out the side
Bottom of 2nd: Stress free inning that ended with McDonald picking off the Blackhawk runner at 1st base,  0-0
Bottom of 3rd: Another easy inning that included two ground ball outs to sophomore 2nd baseman Colin Davis and ending with a strikeout.
Top of 4th: Hopewell gets on the scoreboard first. Triscila starts the inning with a sharp single to left field and comes around to score on a clutch 2-out single to left field by Knobloch. Hopewell led 1-0.
Top of 5th: Blackhawk tied the game in the bottom of the 4th, but the Vikings immediately responded. Kingston Krotec has hit to start the inning, followed by a walk to Drew Donovan. Then with 2 on and 0 out, Smetana singled to center, which brought in Krotec and an error allowed Donovan to advance to third base. Triscila then stepped to the plate and reached on another error, which brought in Donovan and Smetana advanced to 3rd.
That was important because, Smetana then scored on a Blackhawk wild pitch, Hopewell led 4-1. Later in the inning, a Blackhawk balk brought plated Triscila and the final run of the 5-run frame came home on another RBI single by Knobloch. Hopewell led 6-1.
Bottom of 5th: Blackhawk threatened to get back in it as the first two batters in the inning reached but McDonald settled in and got 3 fly outs to each member of his outfield- Krotec in left, Armstrong in center and Knobloch in right field.
Top of 6th: With the bases loaded and 1 out, Gill hit a line drive single to left to score Javion Lindsey (pinch-runner) and Triscila. After Krotec scored on a passed ball, McDonald capped off the afternoon with a bomb to center field to score Gill. Hopewell led 11-1.
Bottom of 6th: Since they were up by 10 runs after 5 innings, McDonald needed a scoreless inning to end the game, and he got the job done. McDonald started things off with a strikeout, followed by a fly out to Krotec and the final out on grounder to Donovan.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 11 BLACKHAWK 1
WINNING IS FUN!!!
