Mike Vukovcan After scoring 27 runs in their first two games of the Bauerstown All-Star Tournament, things changed tonight for the Hopewell 12-Year-Old All-Star team.
Tonight, in a semifinal matchup against Mars, their bats were kept in check, so they needed to rely on pitching and defense to win.
Fortunate for them, the Vikings are able to play that style of game and it worked as Hopewell defeated Mars, 1-0, to advance to the championship game.
This tournament was delayed throughout the day because of rain so the championship game had to be moved to tomorrow tonight. It will be No. 2 seed Hopewell against No. 1 Bauerstown at 6:30 PM.
Tonight, the story was the job done on the mound by Hopewell pitchers Wade Enders and Kruz Krotec. The right-handers each pitched 3 innings and held Mars to just 3 hits, 0 walks and struck out four.
With just four strikeouts, Enders and Krotec had to count on the defenders behind them and the Hopewell defense didn’t let them down.
Here’s a look at the players in the field that recorded outs for Hopewell:
HOPEWELL’S TREMENDOUS DEFENSE IN SEMIFINAL WIN OVER MARS:
1st Inning: 1st baseman Brandon Cecchini (groundball), 3rd baseman Austin Gallagher (groundball) and right fielder Elliott Mancos (fly ball).
2nd Inning: 3rd baseman Austin Gallagher (groundball), shortstop Krotec (groundball), and 2nd baseman Rilynn Davis (groundball).
3rd Inning: 1st baseman Rhett Rankin (groundball), shortstop Krotec (groundball) and 1st baseman (Rankin).
4th Inning: 2nd baseman Connor Eiler (groundball), shortstop Davis and 2nd baseman Eiler (groundball).
5th Inning: 3rd baseman Gallagher (groundball), Krotec strikeout, Krotec strikeout.
6th Inning: Pitcher Krotec (pop up), Krotec strikeout, Krotec strikeout.
Credit the Mars pitching that held this talented lineup to just 5 hits, but Hopewell got all the runs they needed in the 3rd inning.
Hopewell’s 3rd Inning: Wes Gigliotti led the inning off with a perfectly placed bunt single and was able to advance to second base on the throw from the Mars pitcher. While at 2nd with 0 out, Colton Eiler was the offense star by roping a single to left field, which brought in Gigliotti. Hopewell led 1-0 and that turned out to be the game-winning run.
The Hopewell team will be able to get a good night sleep, rest up tomorrow and then will travel to take on a talented Bauerstown team.
Just an early reminder, this Hopewell 12-year-old team, along with the 10-year-old team will be hosting their All-Star Tournament at the Kane Road Complex this coming weekend.
