Mike Vukovcan AMBRIDGE- To say that the Hopewell baseball team was in need of a victory would be a massive understatement.
Along those lines, calling today’s game a must win, would be pretty accurate. Reason being is that it would be difficult to imagine and paint a realistic scenario in which the Vikings could start the season 0-4 in the section and still qualify for the playoffs.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
When any team is struggling, they look for their leaders to step up and deliver a performance that could lift the team and that’s exactly what Hopewell got today from juniors Charlie Smetana and Kingston Krotec.
Thanks to Krotec’s right arm and Smetana’s bat, Hopewell pulled out a 6-4 come from behind victory over Ambridge to keep their season alive.
Krotec gave head coach Morgan Singletary a much-needed quality start as he went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned), walked only 1 and struck out 6. Smetana produced at the plate going 3-for-3, including a game-winning 2-run double in the 6th inning to give his team the lead.
Early in the game, Hopewell had the chance to take a commanding lead but didn’t and that had to be worrisome to the Vikings.
In the top of the 1st inning, Hopewell loaded the bases with 2 outs but stranded them all.
After Krotec had a clean first innings, Hopewell scored a run in the second inning but could’ve gotten more. Krotec drove in James Gill with an RBI single to give Hopewell a 1-0 lead. Once again, they loaded the bases with 2 outs but left them loaded for the second straight inning.
Krotec had a quick 1-2-3 second inning which ended with a strikeout. Hopewell led 1-0 after 2 innings.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Ambridge put a crooked number on the scoreboard as they scored 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead. A nice defensive play ended the inning as CF Ben McDonald threw a strike to Jake Knobloch at third base to gun down the Ambridge runner trying to stretch a double into a triple.
A big key was Krotec keeping the deficit at just 2 runs so that the offense had a catch to respond.
In the bottom of the 4th, Ambridge put 2 runners on, but the inning ended on a pop up to Collin Davis at second base.
Hopewell chipped away at Ambridge’s lead in the top of the 5th inning as Smetana led off with a line drive double to left field. Smetana advanced to 3rd base on a passed ball and would then score with 2 outs on another Ambridge passed ball. Hopewell now trailed 3-2.
Heading to the 6th inning trailing 3-2, Hopewell retook the lead with a big 3-run inning.
After 1 out, Drew Donovan reached on a walk. Next up, Davis also reached base on an Ambridge error, which allowed Donovan to get to third base. Krotec then stepped up with runners and 1st and 3rd and needing to put the ball in play to get home the tying run. Kingston did just that as he grounded out to third, which scored Donovan. Game tied at 3-3.
Up next, James Armstrong then drew a 4-pitch walk to bring up the red-hot Smetana, who roped a ball to center field, which brought in both Davis and Armstrong. Hopewell now led 5-3.
Despite having 84 pitches, Krotec remained in the game and did what his team needed by producing a quick inning, which ended with a strikeout. Krotec finished the game with 100 pitches, 68 of which were strikes.
Ben McDonald’s legs got Hopewell a much-needed insurance run in the Top of the 7th inning as he led off with a walk. McDonald then stole second base, advanced to 3rd on a sac bunt by Payton Korker and would score by stealing home. Hopewell now led 6-3.
Coach Singletary brought in McDonald to close the game, and he did just that.
After a leadoff walk, McDonald got a groundball out to Davis at second base, followed by a strikeout. Ambridge would score a run to make it 6-4 and then loaded the bases but the game ended on a line drive to Davis at second.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 6 AMBRIDGE 4
As a wise man says, “Winning Is Fun!”
Hopewell returns to action on Thursday as they play a non-section game against Avonworth. Their next section game is next Monday at home against North Catholic.
