Mike Vukovcan Hopewell Township – As we’re likely to find out with the Pittsburgh Pirates this year, good pitching will allow you to stay in and win a lot of games.
A similar comparison is starting to develop with the 2026 Hopewell HS baseball team.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
Head coach Morgan Singletary entered the season knowing he had two top-end starters in Ben McDonald and Kingston Krotec.
As the season is progressing, Singletary and other teams are finding out Hopewell has more than two elite starters.
Senior right-hander Payton Korker got the assignment this afternoon of taking on Avonworth, the #3 ranked team in Class 3A team in Pennsylvania.
Korker followed the lead of Krotec and McDonald and turned in an elite performance as Hopewell defeated Avonworth, 11-1 (6 innings).
Korker pitched a complete game, going 6 innings, allowing only 4 hits, 0 ER (1 run), 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.
“I felt great out there,” Korker tells Vikings Sports Now. “My arm feels the best it’s ever felt. I would rank this outing up there as one of my better outings, but I’m focused on building off this and getting better each time.”
“My plan today was going up there and doing what I always do; being competitive every pitch and letting my defense do their thing, and they did exactly that. I would like to shout out Drew Donovan, Collin Davis and Ben McDonald for some great plays today. Pitch wise for me, the fastball and curveball were working. There’s some pitches I wish I could’ve gotten back but other than that, everything was good.”
Korker did his job but so did the Hopewell batters, who collected 9 hits and worked 9 walks.
Leading the way offensively for Hopewell was senior catcher Charlie Smetana, who collected a season-high 3 hits and 1 RBI. Two of those hits were doubles, including one that came just short of his second HR of the season.
VIKINGS BOXSCORE:
*Senior first baseman Logan Triscila went 2-for-3, with 2 runs, 1 RBI and a walk. Triscila looked really comfortable at the plate this afternoon.
*Senior DH James Gills collected 3 RBI and reached base with a hit and a walk.
*Senior CF Ben McDonald reached base 3 times (walk and HBP twice) and scored 3 runs.
*Sophomore right fielder Jayvion Lindsey reached base 3 times (3 walks)
*Sophomore second baseman Collin Davis reached base 3 times (3 walks)
*Sophomore James Armstrong collected 2 hits, 1 run and 1 RBI.
* Senior shortstop Drew Donovan came through with an RBI single, but he was one of today’s stars because of his elite defense. Donovan made two top notch plays, including one that would make ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays of the day. An Avonworth hitter smacked a ball back up the middle and looked as though it would be going into CF, but Donovan glided to hit left to field the ball behind second and made a strong throw across his body to Triscila at 1st base.
HOPEWELL ENDED THE GAME WITH 8-RUN 6TH INNING:
*This game was still a ball game in the 6th inning as they went to the bottom of the inning with just a 3-1 lead. However, that’s when they put up an eight spot to end the game early (10-run lead after 6 innings).
-Lindsey led off with a walk
-With 1 out, Davis also walked
-Armstrong then laid down a perfect bunt single up the third base line, when the pitchers throw sailed over the first baseman’s head, it brought in Lindsey.
-Donovan stepped up and a struck a sharp RBI single to left field, scoring Davis. Hopewell led 5-1
-Smetana then took a 1-1 pitch and ripped it up the third base line for a double, bringing in Armstrong
-After McDonald was hit by a pitch, Triscila reached on an infield single, which scored Donvoan, Hopewell now led 7-1
-Gill kept the party going as he stroked a line drive single to center field which brought in Smetana and McDonald, Hopewell led 9-1
-Later in the inning, with runners and 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, a wild pitch brought in Triscila, Hopewell led 10-1
-Following a walk to Davis, Armstrong ended the game with a hard single to RF, scoring Gill.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 11 AVONWORTH 1
Hopewell improved their record to 3-3 and are starting to gain some momentum. Korker was happy with his performance and showing his team that they have 3 starting pitchers that can dominate games.
The Vikings return to action on Tuesday as they take on North Catholic in a big 2-game series.
“It really means a lot,” said Korker. “I just want to do my job and give our team a chance to win whenever I’m out there. We have tons of talent on the pitching staff. This week, Ben, Kingston, and myself pitched great games. I think of us like a 3-headed monster.”
“I feel like we’re gaining momentum and getting in a grove. Everyone is playing with more confidence and we’re just trying to keep that going. Everyone has the same goal of winning so Roll Vikes Baby!”
