Mike Vukovcan Weather has played havoc with many of our sports teams as games have been cancelled due to the rain or the conditions of the fields due to the previous rain.
The bottom line is that it’s been difficult to get games in and a challenge to try and reschedule them.
On Wednesday, the Hopewell Junior High Softball team hosted the Beaver Bobcats in a double-header, and it was a split- each team coming away with one victory. Hopewell won Game One, 7-1, with Beaver winning Game Two, 8-1. Keep in mind, when high school or junior high teams play a double-header, the games are only 5 innings, not the normal 7.
In Game One, after Beaver scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, Hopewell went on to score the last 7 runs and shut out Beaver the rest of the way.
The combination of Alyssa Phillips and Bella Cipolla were on the mound for Hopewell, with Phillips going 3 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 6 batters. Cipolla entered in the 4th inning and pitched the last 2 frames, allowing only 1 hit, 0 earned runs and striking out 2 batters.
Phillips did a great job in the opening inning limiting damage. With one run already in, Beaver was threatening for more as they had the bases loaded and only 1 out but Phillips went on to strike out the last two batters.
The Lady Vikings responded for a run of their own in the bottom of the first courtesy a 2-out RBI single by Izzy Mutkus, which brought in Gianna Rossi. The score was tied at 1. In the same inning, Mutkus stole second base and would score on an error by the Beaver CF. Hopewell led 2-1.
For the second straight inning, Beaver threatened to score but Phillips came up big. The Bobcats had runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 out but once again, Phillips struck out the batter to end the frame. Hopewell still led 2-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, Hopewell broke the game open by scoring 4 runs and all of that happened with 2 outs.
Lillian Otto singled to right field, followed by a walk to Abby Babinsack. Next up, Lilly Enders reached on an error by Beaver, which allowed Otto to score. Hopewell led 3-1. Next up, Sienna Zon singled to center, which brought in Babinsack and Hopewell now led 4-1. The final run in the 3rd inning scored following Enders stealing home.
Cipolla came on to pitch in the top of the 4th inning and came up with a big out. Beaver had two runners on with 2 out but Cipolla ended the inning following a pop up to Brooke Otto at 3rd base.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hopewell added a couple insurance runs and once again, they came after 2 outs. So, in this game, all seven of Hopewell’s run came home after 2 outs. That’s called clutch hitting.
The example of clutch hitting in this inning came from Babinsack, who singled to left field, bringing in Sam Holsinger and Brooke Otto. Hopewell now led 7-1.
In the final inning, Beaver put on a couple of runners, but the game ended on a ground ball back to Cipolla at the pitcher’s mound.
HOPEWELL WINS GAME ONE OVER BEAVER 7-1
The Junior High softball team improved their record to 3-3-1 and will be off for Easter break and next return to action on Tuesday as they host Central Valley at 4 PM.
