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Victoria Mann

Hopewell Athletics

It’s Time to Help Out Hopewell Standouts Charlie Smetana and Victoria Mann

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

Let’s go Hopewell, it’s time to help out a couple of the top performers at Hopewell High School receive a nice honor.

Hopewell catcher Charlie Smetana completed his junior season and game in and game out, not only performed as Hopewell’s top player but one of the best players in the area. The same can be said for Hopewell senior catcher Victoria Mann.

This morning, the Beaver County Times posted a poll to determine the 2025 Beaver County Times Baseball and Softball Players of the Year. Let’s help them get the recognition that they deserve and help them bring home this award.

Fans are able to vote for the player of the year with the poll remaining open until May 27 at Noon. Winners of athlete of the year polls will be revealed on May 28th.

You’re able to vote as many times as you want up until when voting closes.

Here’s the link, and as they say, ‘Vote Early and Vote Often’. Please share and send this article to friends and family so that they can help out.

Here’s the link for the Boys Baseball Player of the Year.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2025/05/20/who-is-the-beaver-county-times-baseball-player-of-the-year/83670488007/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKZaIxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRTjZVRWhRQlNyeXhFaDhOAR6uYQBArzq4VwaBahcird0ihhuYJQIgn4-6cGaN4yVU0KdUfnIxMJzCebkftw_aem_FEt4DsxUanbKzAQJKqBEKw

 

Here’s the link for the Girls Softball Player of the Year. Mann finished her senior year with a .650 average, 10 doubles, 7 HRs, 33 RBI, 24 runs scored along with throwing out 8 runners and picking 4 off.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/softball/2025/05/20/who-is-the-beaver-county-times-softball-player-of-the-year/83670505007/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKZa4xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRTjZVRWhRQlNyeXhFaDhOAR5vJzKOjKeq6hb7efWCj1LoVWoiFEV_hH1HsQp4TGmP2hBOZzXQ08dRERj1zA_aem_HxZgIADX6GOIEnhknInbcg

 

Good luck Chuck and Victoria!

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Hopewell HS Softball

Hopewell HS Softball Defeats Ellwood City for Most Impressive Win of Season

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 3 minutes read

The Hopewell Vikings HS softball team finished up section play with arguably their most impressive win of the season.

The Lady Vikings went on the road and defeated Ellwood City, 6-1, with a balanced performance both offensively and defensively.

Hopewell didn’t commit an error in the field, got strong pitching from sophomore Alana Covalt and production from the middle of their order, in particular Victoria Mann and Isabella Katkich.

Courtesy Hopewell Softball

Hopewell’s record now stands at 8-7 overall and 5-5 in Class 3A/Section 2. That record has them finishing in 4th place, behind Mohawk (9-1), Avonworth (6-3) and Ellwood City (6-3). That 4th place finish has cliched a spot in the playoffs for Hopewell.

GAME RECAP-
Bottom of the 2nd: Ellwood City scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and after that, Covalt completely shut them down and blanked them the rest of the way. With runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, Covalt got out of this jam with ending the inning on a ground ball to Kara Barkovich at third base. Ellwood City 1-0.

Bottom of the 3rd: Covalt struck out the first two batters and the third out on a fly ball to Marina Pinchotti in left field.

Top of the 4th: Hopewell looked to get on the board as Katkich doubled and Barkovich walked with 1 out. However, credit Ellwood City for getting out of this situation and remained in front 1-0.

Bottom of the 4th: Because her team still trailed, Covalt needed to stay strong, and she did just that with another strong inning.  The inning started with a groundout to Katkich at shortstop. Following a walk, Covalt ended the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

Top of the 5th: The Lady Vikings finally got on the board by putting up a crooked number. Pinchotti started the inning by reaching on an error and advanced to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt by Teagan Scully. Next up, Covalt laid down a bunt single, which brought in Pinchotti. The game was now tied at 1. The big hit of the inning and the game then took place with 2 outs as Mann blasted a home run to center field, scoring Covalt. Hopewell led 3-1. Next up, Katkich did the same thing as she smacked a solo HR to center. Hopewell led 4-1.

Bottom of the 5th: That 3 run lead was more than enough for Covalt. In this frame, good Vikings defense ended a potential threat. With a runner on first and no outs, Covalt fielded a ground ball and threw out the runner at first to Dakota Roche, who then fired a strike to Barkovich at third getting the runner attempting to advance on the groundout.

Top of the 6th: Hopewell added 2 more runs to pad their lead. Covalt doubled to center with 1 out. Following a walk to Mann, Katkich delivered again, this time with a double down the third base line, which scored Covalt. Hopewell led 5-1. Hopewell would add another run on a passed ball to take a 6-1 lead.

Bottom of the 6th: Ellwood City got a 1-out double but that runner was stranded as Covalt struck out the next two batters. Hopewell led 6-1.

Bottom of the 7th: Ellwood City had one more chance to tie the game but that didn’t happen. Covalt struck out the first batter of the inning, followed by a pop up to Allison Ramaley at second base. Following a 2-out single, the game ended on a line out to Ramaley at second.

FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 6 ELLWOOD CITY 1

WINNING IS FUN!!!

Statistics:
*Covalt pitched the best game of her young career going 7 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run, 3 walks and struck out 9.

*Katkich: 3 for 4, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2 doubles and a HR.

*Mann: 1-3, 2 RBI, Walk, Homerun

*Covalt: 2 for 4, 2 runs, 1 RBI

Hopewell will be back in action this afternoon as they travel to Gateway. Then next week, they close out the regular season with 3 non-section games against Riverside, Moon and Sewickley Academy.

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Hopewell HS Softball

Mann and Barkovich Pace Hopewell HS Softball Over Quaker Valley

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

Before you know it, the 2025 WPIAL Softball regular season will be finished and teams that qualify will be preparing for the playoffs.

The Hopewell Vikings are hoping to be one of these teams in the playoff field.

Hopewell currently finds themselves in fourth place in the Section 2 (Class 3A) and remain there following a 10-2 win over Quaker Valley. With the win, the Lady Vikings got their overall record back to 7-7 and 4-5 in section.

Offensively, Hopewell clubbed out 15 hits, including two homeruns: Kara Barkovich and Tallulah Showrank. Congrats ladies.

Courtesy Hopewell HS Softball

Seniors Victoria Mann and Barkovich led the way at the plate going a combined 8-for-8, with 5 RBI. Mann was 5-for-5, with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, while Barkovich went 3-for-3 (single, double and homerun), 2 walks, 2 runs and 3 RBI. That’s quite an afternoon for those two ladies.

Showrank went 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored, Allison Ramaley also collected 2 hits and an RBI, while leadoff hitter Alana Covalt set the pace of the offense getting on base 3 times (2 hits and a walk), scoring 2 runs and collecting an RBI.

Speaking of Covalt, she was one of three pitchers used by Hopewell head coach Ronda Koblek.

Covalt got the start and pitched a perfect 2 innings, not allowing a hit, run or walk, while striking out two. Barkovich pitched the third inning, allowing 2 runs, 0 walks and striking out 3. Ramaley closed out the game, not allowing a run and striking out 4 batters.

After a day off today, Hopewell plays their final section game of the season on Wednesday at Ellwood City and then will have a non-section game on Thursday at Gateway.

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Hopewell HS Softball

On Senior Day, Hopewell HS Softball Defeats Quaker Valley, 11-4

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 2 minutes read

It was only fitting that on Senior Day, all four of Hopewell’s seniors played a big role in the Vikings 11-4 victory over Quaker Valley.

Isabella Katkich, Tallula Showrank, Victoria Mann and Kara Barkovich were honored before the game and then once the game started, turned into outstandings performances to lead Hopewell’s offense.

The victory improved Hopewell’s record to 5-4 and to 2-2 in section play.

Hopewell’s 4 seniors went a combined 5 for 12, with 6 runs, 6 RBI and 4 Walks.

The Lady Vikings jumped out a 7-2 lead after 4 innings, which gave their pitchers the cushion they needed

On the mound, Alana Covalt got the start and pitched the first 4 innings. The sophomore right-hander allowed just 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks and struck out 4 batters. Junior Allison Ramaley pitched the last 3 innings, allowed only 1 hit, 2 runs (0 earned runs), 1 walk and struck out 4.

Hopewell’s Allison Ramaley

Taking a look at some big plays in the today’s game, with Hopewell leading 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Covalt made it 3-1 with a 2-out RBI single which scored Teagan Scully.

Hopewell went to the bottom of the fourth inning leading 3-2 and added 4 more runs, all of which came with 2 outs. The first two runs scored on a single to left by Katkich. Then after Barkovich walked, Mann singled to left, which scored both Katkich and Barkovich. Hopewell led 7-2 after four innings.

In the top of the 5th, after her offense put up four runs, Ramaley did her job as she retired Quaker Valley 1-2-3, courtesy a pop-up to Katkich at shortstop, a ground ball to Covalt at second and ending the inning with a strikeout.

After Quaker Valley scored 2 unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Vikings responded in the bottom of the frame with 4 more runs.

With 2 on and 0 out, Showrank produced 2-run single, which scored Barkovich and Mann to make it 9-4. Next up, Ramaley hit a line drive triple to right field, which scored Showrank.

Ramaley went to the final inning with a seven-run lead and made short work of Quaker Valley as Ramaley fielded the first out on a pop up back to the mound. After that, Allison struck out the second QV hitter and the game ended on a ground out to Katkich at shortstop.

Vikings Win!

No rest for Hopewell as they take on Ellwood City tomorrow at home in a very important section game. First pitch is set for 4 PM.

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Hopewell HS Softball

Victoria Mann and Kara Barkovich Want to End Hopewell Careers Making More Memories

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 4 minutes read

Slowly but surely, the 2024-25 school year is coming to an end which means this spring sports season will be the last time that seniors represent Hopewell High School on the playing field.

It goes without saying that these next couple of months will be emotional for many athletes in this situation, especially two members of the Hopewell High School Softball team.

Seniors Kara Barkovich and Victoria Mann are not only teammates but have been lifelong friends. The pair has known each other since kindergarten and have played sports, particularly softball with each other since then.

Vikings Sports Now had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with Mann and Barkovich about this last go-around and both talked about the emotions that will go with it.

“Here and there I think about that this is it that is my last season with my girls and it does make me emotional at times,” Mann told Vikings Sports Now. “I know that I’m going to cry at Senior Night and at our last game. Right now, though there’s so much going on with practice and us all working hard that I forget about it. I do need though to start paying more attention to it and remember to take in the moments.”

“With it being my last time for everything, it has changed in a way my preparation and focus to the season. I’m feeling like I have to make the most of everything. I need to try my hardest at every practice, every game, at everything. This is it.”

“I think it hit me, and I actually have a specific moment,” said Barkovich. “We were on our way to the Blackhawk game, and we were in the back of the bus, and they have our names on the poles on Longvue in front of the school. Seeing those it just made me start thinking that this is really my last year with these 3 seniors and my teammates. I’ll never be with this group of girls and this Hopewell team again.”


During the interview, you could just tell and feel the closeness between these two girls, which made having the opportunity to play a competitive sport together for the last 6 years that much more enjoyable.

“It really has meant the world to me.,” said Barkovich. “We started off, I think I started pitching at 8U and ever since then, we’ve grown a close bond, especially on the field.  When I’m on the mound, she can just tell what pitch I want to throw. We literally have this connection, and she knows what’s working and what’s not. She just knows me.”

 

“I know what pitch she wants to throw,” said Mann. “Sometimes we just look at each other and just nod and I don’t even have to call anything, I just know what she’s throwing. Growing up and playing together for so long, we just have a chemistry.”

“It’s made it a lot more fun,” said Mann. “But it also makes it a lot sadder when it comes to an end because we’ve been together since we were in kindergarten which makes things really sad but I’m just glad that it’s happened, and we’ve been able to share this experience in life together.”

Enough of this sad talk because this Hopewell team has a chance to make a lot of happy memories the rest of the season. The Lady Vikings have one more non-conference game before section play begins and then hopefully that’s followed by the playoffs.

“I really have a confidence in this year’s team,” said Barkovich. “I’ve never had a bond with a Hopewell team that I feel with this one. I feel that by having that could help us go really far. I think we have a good shot at making the playoffs, but I want to do more than just making the playoffs, I want to go further.”

Mann echoed that talking about the closeness of this team and how everyone gets along. There’s been a real effort to develop a team chemistry and wanting to win for one another.

“I entered this year thinking that we were going to be good and now seeing the way that we’ve played I still have very high hopes for us,” said Mann.

“I think our latest game against CV really showed people what we can do as a team,” said Barkovich. “Our defense was on point and our offense really came through with everyone hitting the ball.”

That Vikings offense was definitely hitting the ball with Mann and Barkovich leading the way with 2 HR’s apiece.

Hopewell’s dynamic duo has plenty of more games to make highlights and have a clear vision of how they want to be remembered.

“I want to be remembered as the Senior Group that was fun, didn’t have problems and brought life to the team and made the underclassman feel welcome,” said Mann.

“I want to be remember as a team that put in the work and showed how good they really could be,” said Barkovich.

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Hopewell HS Softball

WATCH: Kara Barkovich and Victoria Mann Talk About Special Moment

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

Something special and unusual occurred last week in a Hopewell HS Softball game.

Victoria Mann and Kara Barkovich are life long friends and they did something that they’ll remember and talk about the rest of their lives.

In their last game against Central Valley, Barkovich and Mann hit back-to-back home-runs in the 6th inning.

While that was a a nice feat, it’s something that’s probably happened a lot over the years in the WPIAL.

However, what took place next probably hasn’t occurred very often.

After both homering in consecutive at-bats in the 6th inning, that duo got to bat again in the 7th inning and guess what they did?

Yep, you guessed it, they hit back-to-back home-runs in the 7th inning.

That is incredible and Vikings Sports Now talked to Mann and Barkovich about it this morning.

 

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Hopewell HS Softball

Barkovich and Mann Power Hopewell to 14-8 Win Over Central Valley

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

One day after losing to Deer Lakes 5-2, the Hopewell HS Softball team bounced back with a big-time effort against Central Valley

The Lady Vikings offense stepped up in a big way led by Kara Barkovich and Victoria Mann, who both blasted two homeruns, enroute to a 14-8 win over CV.

Hopewell hitters banged out a season-high 13 hits and 5  home runs. Aside from Barkovich and Mann, Tallulah Showrank who hit a solo blast.

Taking a look at the Vikings box score, Mann and Tallulah Showrank, each had 3 hits. Barkovich and Alana Covalt both had 2 hits, while Isabella Katkich, Allison Ramaley, Marina Pinchotti also collected a hit.

The RBI collectors today were by Barkovich with 5, Mann with 3, Showrank with 2, Covalt with 1 and Ramaley with 1.

Central Valley jumped out to 5-4 lead after 2 innings but Hopewell then scored the next 7 runs of the game.

The turning point in the game occurred in the 6th inning. Teagan Scully, Covalt and Katkich led off the inning with 3 straight walks followed by Barkovich hitting a grand slam to center field to give Hopewell a 10-5 lead. Next up, Mann followed that up by clubbing a solo homerun to center field. Hopewell now led 11-5.

Central Valley added 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning but Hopewell responded with three of their own in top of the 7th inning. Covalt delivered an RBI triple, followed by back to back blasts again by Barkovich and Mann.

The beneficiaries of this offense were both Covalt and Ramaley. After a solid start yesterday, Covalt was back on the mound again this afternoon. Alana went the first two innings, allowing 1 hit, 5 runs (only 1 earned run), 6 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Ramaley pitched the last 5 innings of the game, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Allison threw 77 pitches, 45 of which were strikes.

With the win, Hopewell improves to 3-2 and will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Moon.

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