Mike Vukovcan If you’re a regular follower of Vikings Sports Now, then you’re familiar with the phrase ‘Winning is Fun’ that I like to use following Hopewell Viking wins.
While that is true, the same can’t be said for losing, in fact, ‘Losing Sucks’ and unfortunately, the Hopewell High School baseball team endured a lot of that this season.
In fact, following their 7-2 rain shortened loss this afternoon to Blackhawk, Hopewell was eliminated from playoff contention.
The fact that I wrote that is a shock to me and no doubt everyone associated with the baseball program. Using the word shock isn’t an understatement because no one would’ve predicted that at the start of the season.
Unfortunately that’s the reality and that once again sucks because of the commitment that these players and coaches put into making the playoffs this season. When I tell you that no program in Hopewell and any that I’m familiar with puts in more time working to get better than Morgan Singletary’s baseball program.
That’s the truth.
They don’t practice/train year-round but it’s pretty damn near close to it. And when you invest that much time and fail to reach your goal, I can’t imagine what the players and coaches are thinking/feeling.
Honestly the Vikings baseball program is in a position they haven’t found themselves in since 2014. The 2013-14 was the last time the Hopewell HS baseball program failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
Considering the competition they face year in and year out, that was a hell of a streak, and it sucks that it came to an end but that’s the nature of sports.
I can tell you one thing, considering the winning they’ve done and championships they’ve won, no one is feeling sorry for Hopewell and nor should they.
This is a prideful program and one that will attempt to finish the last 2 games strong before working on a plan to get this turned around for next season.
With the season coming to a close on Friday, I’d imagine the planning, looking back and critiquing will begin Saturday. That’s obviously an exaggeration but I’m probably not that far off.
The urgency to get this turned will be ramped up because next season will be the final season for the core of this team.
Since they grew up playing youth baseball together- Charlie Smetana, Kingston Krotec, Drew Donovan, Ben McDonald, James Gill and Logan Triscilla have won a lot of baseball games and haven’t experienced much losing. However, the last two years, Hopewell’s combined record is 14-22.
Losing in baseball isn’t in their DNA so this is no doubt a trying time for them in terms of confidence.
That core, along with the other members of the team and this coaching staff are winners so others can get their licks in and enjoy it now because I’d be surprised if it lasts.
The Hopewell baseball program has too much pride and is surrounded by too many talented people that care for this losing to continue.
This Class of 2026 has one season left of playing baseball together, they’re going to do everything possible to make sure they won’t have to live through another 2025 season.
They have one more shot to get this right and they will because the alternative sucks.
