Hopewell Varsity Vikings and North Catholic Varsity Trojans put on an exciting display of baseball!

Hopewell Varsity Vikings and North Catholic Varsity Trojans put on an exciting display of baseball on Tuesday, with standout performances from both teams.

Hopewell’s offense was ignited early in the game, with Jacob Knobloch drawing a walk in the second inning to get on the scoreboard. The Vikings’ offense really came alive in the top of the fifth inning, as they took control with a seven-run rally fueled by three hits. A key moment in the inning came when Collin Davis doubled on an 0-2 count, driving in two crucial runs.

Kingston Krotec delivered a dominant pitching performance for the Vikings, going six and one-third innings while surrendering just four runs (one earned) and striking out five batters. His poise on the mound kept the Trojans at bay. This is the second strong outing back to back for the Hopewell Ace. Ben McDonald came on in relief and continued the strong pitching effort to close out the game, Ben was able to dial up the right pitch at the right time to shut down the final push by North Catholic in the final inning to close things out for the Vikings!

North Catholic showed grit, with Ryker Kennedy leading the charge at the plate, going 3-for-3 and showcasing his ability to consistently find success at the plate. Landon Eifler also contributed offensively, with a solid 1-for-4 performance, including two runs batted in.

Both teams displayed excellent discipline at the plate. Hopewell’s hitters had a keen eye, collecting six walks throughout the game, with Charles Smetana and Krotec each drawing two walks. On the mound, Eifler for North Catholic showed great tenacity, striking out five batters and holding Hopewell’s offense at bay for part of the game.

The Vikings and Trojans both demonstrated strong hitting and pitching, for a very competitive game. As Hopewell heats up as the season goes on we look to their next matchup when they face the Montour Varsity Spartans on Thursday.