Hopewell Baseball Opens Up Section Play With 5-4 Win Over Beaver

Sometimes in sports it’s better to be lucky than good and that can certainly be a way to describe Hopewell’s game this afternoon against Beaver.

Coach Morgan Singletary’s team was back in action today for the first time in 9 days as they hosted Beaver in the 2024 section opener.

The long layoff, along with the chilly maybe explained the cold bats but the defending champions found a way to 5-4 win in a very improbable way.

Hopewell junior righthander David Medich made the start for Hopewell and once again was extremely effective. Medich went 4.1 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 1 ER, while striking out 9 batters. He only lasted into the 5th because his pitch count was up to 89 pitches.

In the top of the 1st inning, Medich struck out the side and then his offense got him a run in the bottom of the 1st.

Zach Gigliotti walked with 1 out and moved to 3rd base on a single to right field by John Vescio. Then with 2 outs, Gigliotti timed the pitchers wind up and stole home easily. Example No. 1 of Hopewell scoring an unconventional run.

After T. Butler hit a homerun for Beaver to tie the game in the second inning, Hopewell answered with 3 runs in a bizarre way.

With 2 outs, Lucas Walton was hit by a pitch. Next up, Tyler Triscila reached on an error, which was followed by a Kingston Krotec walk. Then with the bases loaded, Walton scored on a wild pitch. However, on the catchers throw to the pitcher who was covering home, the throw was wild, which allowed Triscila to score. On the same play, the pitcher attempted to flip to the catcher to get Triscila but that also was wild and Krotec ended up scoring too.

So, Hopewell ended up scoring 3 runs on a wild pitch, followed by 2 errors to grab a 4-1 lead.

While Hopewell’s bats might have been cold today, the same thing can’t be said about their gloves. In the 3rd inning, Medich was helped out by a nice play at third by Tyler Triscila and a catch in center field by Vescio.

A huge moment in the game came in the 4th inning. Beaver loaded the bases with 2 outs, but Medich ended any chances by Beaver of scoring with a nasty curveball to end the inning. Hopewell remained in front 4-1.

Beaver scored 3 runs in the 5th inning and were threatening to score more as they had a runner at 2nd with 2 outs, but sophomore left-hander Ben McDonald ended the inning with a strikeout.

The final example of scoring unconventionally ended up being the game-winner for Hopewell.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Hopewell had the bases loaded with 2 outs and scored the game-winning run on a balk by the Beaver pitcher.

McDonald got the ball to start the 6th and with a runner at 2nd with 2 outs, Vescio, who played a tremendous game defensively, ran down a ball in the gap to end the inning and preventing Beaver from tying the game.

Then in the final inning, McDonald got Beaver 1-2-3 to end the game.

Hopewell improves their record to 4-2 and 1-0 in the section. These two teams will face each other game this time at Beaver. First pitch is set for Noon.