Mike Vukovcan DARLINGTON- Due to the high number of games this week and the strict rules with pitch count, Hopewell (Team Hoffman) was in a tough situation tonight as they took on Blackhawk.
Coach Hoffman didn’t have a number of arms available so he needed to figure out a plan.
Hoffman decided to call upon Mason Santamaria, who had only pitched once this season.
The decision paid off as Santamaria came through with a gutsy effort and allowed Hopewell to remain in the game.
That combined with a nice job by pitcher Ryder Kostrick and some big hitting by Tyler Hoffman, Hopewell came away with a 7-7 tie.
Santamaria went 4 innings, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Kostrick went the next 3 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Hoffman had the big stick going 3-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI.
Blackhawk jumped out to a 1-0 before Hopewell tied it up. Blackhawk scored 1 in the bottom of the 3rd before Hopewell scored 4 runs in the top of the 4th.
Hoffman ripped a 2-run triple to put Hopewell ahead 3-2. Next up, Reed Budavich came through with an RBI single to bring in Hoffman, Hopewell now led 4-2.
The inning was capped off by a clutch sacrifice fly by Wade Enders, which scored Budavich. Hopewell was short players and Enders was called up from Hopewell Youth Baseball to play in this game. Hopewell led 5-2.
Blackhawk scored 3 runs after 2 outs in the bottom of the inning but Hopewell once again was able to score.
In the top of the 5th, Hopewell loaded the bases with 0 outs and went back ahead 6-5 on a sacrifice fly by Kostrick to score Vin Smetana, who led off the inning with a single. Next up, Hoffman singled in Ryan Gaguzis with 2 outs. Hopewell led 7-5.
Unfortunately, Blackhawk scored 2 runs with 2 outs in the 6th inning to tie the game at 7.
Final Score: Hopewell 7 Â Blackhawk 7
