Mike Vukovcan CENTER TWP– It sounds like a broken record, but it’s been one of the story lines of the 2026 Hopewell HS baseball season.
For the fourth time in his five section starts this season, senior Kingston Krotec took the mound following a loss and needing to come up big in order to prevent a sweep.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
Hopewell was coming off a disappointing 7-3 loss on Monday to Central Valley.
Because of how bunched up teams in the section were and with Hopewell still hoping to qualify for the playoffs, a win today was very, very important.
A loss wouldn’t have eliminated the Vikings, but it would have put them in a difficult spot heading into the final two games of the season next week against first place Blackhawk.
Like he’s done all season, Krotec was clutch as he pitched his 5th complete game of the season as Hopewell pulled out a late-inning 4-3 win over Central Valley. Krotec pitched 7 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Hopewell improved their overall record to 11-5 and 6-4 in Class 4A/Section 1.
Here are the updated standings following all the section results on Tuesday.
Beaver: 7-3
Blackhawk: 7-3
Hopewell: 6-4
Ambridge: 6-6
Hampton: 5-5
Central Valley: 3-7
North Catholic: 2-8
The top 4 teams in the section qualify for the playoffs. We’re not going to speculate on playoff scenarios, but we can tell you that both Beaver and Blackhawk have qualified. If Hopewell is able to win 1 of the 2 games next week against Blackhawk, they’ll 100% clinch a spot.
Depending on tie-breaker scenarios, the Vikings might have already clinched a spot because the worse they can finish in the section is tied with Ambridge at 6-6. At this point, although I’m not 100% certain, Hopewell appears to be playing next week for seeding. If they can win 2 games next week, finishing in first place is still on the table.
KEY MOMENTS OF TODAY’S 4-3 WIN:
*Central Valley jumped on Hopewell early by scoring 3 runs in the first inning so the Vikings started this one in the hole, but they got out quickly.
In the top of the 2nd, senior Charlie Smetana led off with a double to center field, which was followed by a Logan Triscila walk. With 2 on and 0 out, senior James Gill reached on a CV error, which loaded the bases. Next batter, it seems to happen every game this season for him, but Ben McDonald is hit by a pitch, which plates Smetana. Hopewell trailed 3-1. Then with 1 out, Collin Davis also reached on an error, which scored 2 runners and the game was now tied at 3.
*The rest of the game was all about Krotec and the Hopewell defense.
*Bottom of the 2nd, with a runner on second, Hopewell turned a double play as Davis caught a line drive and flipped to Drew Donovan at short for the DP.
*Bottom of the 3rd, nice Hopewell defense cut down a CV runner attempting to turn a double into a triple. The other two outs of the inning were turned on ground outs to Donovan and Payton Korker at third base.
*Bottom of the 4th, CV picked up back-to-back singles with 2 outs, but Krotec shut things down with an inning ending strike out.
*Bottom of the 5th, another easy inning as Triscila caught a pop up at 1st base for the first out, Korker fielded a grounder at third for out #2 and Ben McDonald caught a fly out in center for the third out.
*Bottom of the 6th, CV has a runner at 2nd with 2 outs, but Krotec ends the inning with a strikeout.
*Despite all of this, the game was still tied at 3 heading to the top of the 7th inning.
-With 2 outs, Krotec was at 1st base when Donovan doubled to right field and Krotec motored all the way around from first to score. Hopewell led 4-3.
Hopewell’s Drew Donovan
*Bottom of 7th, Krotec started the final inning with 80+ pitches so he couldn’t afford a long inning, or he would have to be replaced. King made sure that didn’t happen.
-Out #1, groundout to Donovan at SS.
-Out #2, Krotec fielded a bunt attempt and threw to Triscila at 1st.
-Final Out, Korker catches a pop at 3rd base.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 4 CENTRAL VALLEY 3
