West Allegheny Dominates Hopewell in 13-1 Victory!

West Allegheny Dominates Hopewell in 13-1 Victory!

On Wednesday, Hopewell Middle School’s baseball team faced a tough defeat, falling 13-1 to West Allegheny in a one-sided matchup. The Vikings have been unable to break their losing streak this season. Despite working hard to get on the board, it’s clear that Hopewell’s challenges persist, and it may take a significant shakeup to bring life back into the team.

West Allegheny wasted no time in asserting control over the game, jumping out to an early lead in the first inning. Bryce Barbour set the tone with a single to center field, followed by a walk from Kayden Tomei, both of whom scored to give West Allegheny a 2-0 advantage.

The offensive barrage continued in the second inning, as Ethan Police and Bryce Zeroski each recorded an RBI single to extend the lead by three more runs, putting West Allegheny up 5-0.

Hopewell, had its chances to make a comeback. However, West Allegheny’s defense and pitching proved unshakable. The Vikings’ best effort came in the top of the seventh inning, when Christian Fischer drew a walk to lead off the inning and stole second to get into scoring position. Then Grant Olsen, the last batter in the lineup, managed to break through. Olsen’s hit was the only one for Hopewell on the day, and he ultimately drove in the team’s sole run, providing a small glimmer of hope amid a game dominated by West Allegheny.

West Allegheny continued to pile on the runs, scoring one in the third and a massive seven in the fourth. A mix of timely hits and errors by Hopewell allowed West Allegheny to run away with the game, including a two-run single by #32, an error that brought in two more runs, and several walks that helped fuel the scoring spree.

On the mound, Connor Reed started for Hopewell and was challenged early. He gave up four hits and five runs (four earned) over two innings, while walking three. On the opposite side, West Allegheny’s Nathan Wiley was nearly flawless, throwing two scoreless innings while striking out two and walking two.

Channing Yesionek took the mound in relief, faced 14 batters, throwing 51 pitches, 28 strikes over 1.2 innings.

Although Hopewell did manage to work the count and collect six walks during the game, their offense never found its rhythm. Aside from Olsen’s lone hit, the Vikings were unable to put together any sustained offensive threats.

West Allegheny’s offense was highlighted by multiple stolen bases, as Ty O’Shea, Tomei, Barbour, and Police all swiped multiple bags. The team collected a total of 11 stolen bases and finished with seven walks. Meanwhile, Zeroski led the charge with two hits in four at-bats, while Police, Zeroski, and #32 each drove in two runs.

Hopewell’s upcoming matchup against Central Valley on Friday will be another critical test. If the Vikings are to reverse their fortunes, they will need to look at their current form as it’s simply not enough to break the losing streak. Hopewell’s challenge to generate offense and to contain opposing teams is expected as they are playing older teams.

As a young team, the seventh-grade Viking group faces its share of challenges. However, their dedication and hard work will ultimately determine their success in the long run.