Charlie Smetana

While they weren’t technically the playoffs, considering the situation they’re in, the Hopewell Viking baseball teams playoffs started today against Hampton.

Sitting with a 2-4 record in the section and needing to jump 3 teams in order to reach fourth place, which would get them in the playoffs, Hopewell entered today’s contest knowing that these next two games against Hampton were must wins.

With their backs against the wall, Hopewell played without a doubt their most complete and best game of the season as they defeated Hampton, 8-1. It’s interesting that all 3 of Hopewell’s section wins have come on the road (Hampton, Ambridge and North Catholic).

Hopewell played strong defense (0 errors), banged out a season-high 11 hits and got a tremendous performance from starting pitcher David Medich. The senior right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing only 6 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks and struck out 6 batters. Medich, who threw 96 pitches (62 strikes), was one out away from a shutout before a 2-out double by Hampton.

The win gives Hopewell their first two-game winning streak of the season and more importantly, keeps them alive in their quest to make a late season run to the WPIAL Playoffs. Step one was today and now they need to rinse and repeat this performance tomorrow afternoon, when they return home to host Hampton in Game Two of this series.

GAME RECAP-

*This game started off as another pitching duel as it remained scoreless through 4 innings.

Bottom of the 1st– Hampton’s leadoff hitter reached on a single, but Medich went on to strike out the next two batters and got the final out of the inning on a pop up to Collin Davis at second base.

Bottom of the 2nd– Medich had a relatively easy second inning as he struck out the first batter and then after allowing a single, he received some help from his catcher Charlie Smetena, who gunned down a runner attempting to steal second base. On the season, Smetena has thrown out 10 of the 13 runners that have attempted to steal a base. I’ll give the opposing teams a helpful hint, quit trying to steal against Chuck, it doesn’t turn out well.

Hopewell’s Charlie Smetana

Bottom of the 3rd– Medich only faced 4 batters in the third inning as he recorded another strikeout, second out came courtesy a ground out to Drew Donovan at short and the frame ended on a line out to Davis at second base.

Bottom of the 4th– A 1-2-3 fourth inning following two strikeouts and a ground out to Donovan.

Top of the 5th– Hopewell took advantage of some sloppy defense by Hampton in this inning. After 1 out, Ben McDonald doubled to center field. Next up, Davis reached on an error by the shortstop and McDonald advanced to third base. Next up, Jake Knoblach laid down a bunt and reached on an error by the Hampton pitcher and McDonald and Davis scored. Hopewell led 2-0. Knobloch advanced all the way to 3rd base and that was key because he was able to score on a ground out by leadoff hitter Kingston Krotec. Hopewell led 3-0. Krotec did his job at the top of the order collecting 3 hits.

Hopewell’s Kingston Krotec

Bottom of the 5th– More good Hopewell defense in this inning is after a leadoff walk, Donovan turned an unassisted 6-3 double play to clean things up. Donovan has turned into ‘Mr. Doubleplay” for Hopewell. In their last game against Laurel Highlands, Donovan turned two unassisted DP’s and also teamed up with Davis for a 6-4-3 twin killing.

Hopewell’s Drew Donovan

Top of the 6th– Hopewell tacked on two more runs to give themselves some breathing room. After one out, Logan Triscila was hit by a pitch, which was followed by a double to right field by Donovan. That put runners at 2nd and 3rd for James Gill, who delivered with a double to center field, which scored Triscila and Donovan. Gill finished today 2-4 for 3 RBI and in his last 3 games is 4 for 6. Hopewell now led 5-0.

Hopewell’s James Gill

Bottom of the 6th– Nothing doing for Hampton in the 6th as Donovan took care of the first two outs with the final out coming after a grounder to Jake Knobloch at 3rd.

Top of the 7th– The Vikings added 3 more runs in their final at-bats of the game. Krotec led off with his 3rd hit of the game, followed by a single to right field by James Armstrong. Now with 2 on, Smetana singled to left, which loaded the bases with 0 outs. The hits kept coming as Triscila hit a line drive single to center, which scored Krotec and Armstrong. Hopewell led 7-0. The final run for Hopewell came after an RBI single by Gill, which scored Smetana. Hopewell led 8-0.

Bottom of the 7th– Medich came back out to get the final 3 outs and that’s exactly what he did as the first two came after a lineout to Triscila at first and a fly out to Krotec in right field. Following a Hampton RBI double, the final out of the game was a grounder to Davis at second.

FINAL SCORE- HOPEWELL 8 HAMPTON 1

“WINNING IS FUN’!!!

These two teams will battle it out again tomorrow at Hopewell High School with the first pitch scheduled for 4 PM. It’ll be another beautiful day so if you have a chance, stop by and cheer this team on as they look for their third consecutive win.

In case you were wondering, Hopewell’s last 3 game winning streak occurred during their magical run of winning the WPIAL Championship. At the end of that season, before their season ending loss in the PIAA Playoffs, Hopewell went on a 7-game winning streak to end the season. Can that magic return for the end of this season? Time will tell.

Go Vikings!!