Mike Vukovcan This afternoon in their 2025 Home Opener, the Hopewell Vikings Baseball team will go up against their most difficult challenge of the season.
Hopewell’s bats will be facing the difficult challenge of going up against not only one of the best prospects in Pennsylvania but in the country in Riverside senior RHP Christian Lucarelli.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
During his sophomore season, the 6’3″, 215-pound flame thrower signed to play college baseball in the ACC for the Duke Blue Devils. However, it remains to be seen whether he ends up in Durham because there is talk that Lucarelli could bypass college and enter the 2025 MLB Draft. Some early projections have him possibly going as high as the 2nd or 3rd round.
With Riverside, Lucarelli has a career record of 16-3 (33 appearances) with a career ERA of 1.62 and 227 strikeouts. Lucarelli’s ERA last season as a junior was under 1.00.
Aside from throwing a fastball that has touched 96 mph in game action and 97 mph in a preseason workout, Lucarelli throws a slider and a splitter.
Because of watching his pitch count and taking care of his valuable right arm, it remains to be seen how long, Lucarelli will pitch this afternoon.
This will no doubt be a challenge for Hopewell’s hitters, but this can also be looked at as a fun and memorable opportunity to test themselves against an elite prospect.
With it being a perfect day for baseball, if you have a chance, come over to Hopewell High School to cheer on Hopewell as well as to watch a big-time national baseball talent.
First pitch is set for 4 PM.
