HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP– One of the best things about competing in sports is the life lessons that players have the opportunity to learn.
One of the greatest ones is that you never quit; despite what the outcome of the game may look like.
Hopewell’s Sadler Landscaping (9-10-Year-Old team) twice found themselves in positions where it didn’t look as though they were going to win but they kept working and didn’t quit.
Hopewell trailed 6-1 going to the bottom of the 5th inning but went on to score 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Freedom then scored 4 runs in the top of the 7th and once again, this team didn’t give up and scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th to earn their most exciting win of the 2026 season.
Sports also demands that you be tough and in the bottom of the 7th inning we had an example of that. With the game tied at 10, with the bases loaded with 2 outs, Will Vukovcan stood in there and wore a pitch as he was hit in the eye with the pitch, that allowed the winning run to score.
5TH INNING WHEN HOPEWELL TIED THE GAME AT 6:
Jack Stager led off with a line drive double to right field, which was followed by a walk to Jaxon Kleckner. With 1 out, Declan Rinaldi reached on an error, which allowed Stager to score. Next up, Jonah Honess collected his 2nd hit of the game, an RBI single to center, which scored Kleckner. Cleanup hitter Tristyn Trkulija then stepped to the plate and crushed a 2-2 pitch to center field for a 3-run HR. The game was now tied at 6!
Tristyn has big time power and is certainly a player to watch over the coming years.
GAME-WINNING RALLY IN THE 7TH INNING:
With 1 out, Grayden McNally reached on an error, which was followed by a walk to Rinaldi. With 2 on and 1 out, Honess smacked a 2-run double to left, which brought in McNally and Rinaldi. Hopewell now trailed 10-8. With 2 outs, Mason Thumm walked and he and Honess then stole a base to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Deacon Ankrom then came up with a clutch infield single (his second hit of the game) to score Honess, Hopewell now trailed 10-9.
With Thumm as 3rd base and Ankrom at 1st, Kade Glass drew a walk to load the bases. Micah Zughaib stepped to the plate in a pressure situation needing to find a way to extend the game and he did as Zughaib came up with an infield single, which scored Thumm and tied the game at 10.
Then with the bases loaded and down in the count 1-2, Vukovcan stood in there on a pitch up and in, it hit him and Ankrom scored to complete the comeback.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 11 FREEDOM 10 (7 Innings), Will’s eye is a bit swollen, but he’ll be ok.
WINNING IS FUN!!
Pitching Box score for Hopewell:
Honess: 2 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 0 walks and 5 strikeouts
Thumm: 1.2 innings, 1 hit, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk and 2 strikeouts
Cullen Harcum: .1, 1 hit, 1 strikeout
Rinaldi: 2 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 0 walks and 5 strikeouts
McNally: 1 inning, 2 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 2 walks and 3 strikeouts