Mike Vukovcan Don’t look now but the Hopewell Vikings HS Softball team is getting hot at the perfect time of the season.
This afternoon, Hopewell kept up their strong play with a 10-0 road win over Gateway. With the win, the Lady Vikings moved their overall record to 9-7 and have now won 3 in a row and 4 of their last 5 games.
Like was the case yesterday on the road against Ellwood City, Hopewell was strong in all 3 elements of the game- offense, pitching and defense.
For the second straight game, Hopewell didn’t commit an error in the field. On the mound, Allison Ramaley was able to blank the Gators, going 5 innings, allowing only 4 hits, 0 runs and striking out 7 batters. The trio of Ramaley, Victoria Mann and Tallulah Showrank paced the way for the Hopewell offense.
GAME RECAP:
Top of 1st inning: Hopewell set the tone for the game in their first at-bats as they were able to put up 4 early runs. After 2 outs, Mann was hit by a pitch, Isabella Katkich and Kara Barkovich walked to load the bases for Showrank, who was hit by a pitch to bring in Mann, Hopewell led 1-0. Next up, Dakota Roche was also hit to bring in Katkich. Hopewell led 2-0. Instead of getting hit, Marina Pinchotti did the hitting as she smacked a single to right field, which brought in Barkovich and Showrank. Hopewell led 4-0 after the 1st inning.
Bottom of 1st inning: Gateway got 2 runners on with 2 outs but Ramaley got out of the inning by getting a fly out to Teagan Scully in right field.
Bottom of the 2nd inning: Ramaley made quick work of the Gateway hitters as she struck out 2 batters and the final out on a groundout to Barkovich at third base. Hopewell 4-0.
Bottom of the 3rd inning: Another easy frame as Ramaley struck out the first two batters and after allowing a single, Allison got the final out on a line drive to Showrank in center field.z
Top of the 4th inning: 3 more runs from the Hopewell offense. The first 5 batters of the inning drew a walk, the final one was Barkovich, which brought in Ramaley. Hopewell led 5-0. Next up, Showrank doubled to center field, which brought in Mann and Katkich. Hopewell led 7-0.
Bottom of the 4th: Ramaley didn’t have to labor at any point in this game, having thrown 68 pitches in 5 innings. In this inning, Ramaley recorded two more strikeouts, along with a groundout from Katkich to Mann at first base.
Top of the 5th inning: With the bases loaded and 0 out, Ramaley smacked a 2-run double to center scoring Covalt and Kamryn Roche, Hopewell led 9-0. Next up, Mann doubled in Ramaley for the final run of the game, Hopewell led 10-0.
Bottom of the 5th inning: Leading by 10 runs in the 5th inning, Hopewell needed only 3 more outs for the win and got them. Ramaley struck out the first batter, the second out came via a pop up to Mann at first and the game ended on a groundout to Mann, who flipped to Ramaley.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 10 GATEWAY 0
WINNING IS FUN!!!
Hopewell closes out the 2025 regular season next week with 3 non-section games, the first of which is Monday at home against Riverside.
