Hopewell 12U Navy Beats Freedom 12U 17-14 in an exciting game!

Hopewell 12U Navy Beats Freedom 12U 17-14 in an exciting game!

Bats were on fire Tuesday as Hopewell outslugged Freedom in a wild 17-14 showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats from first pitch to final out. In a back-and-forth affair that saw nine lead changes, both teams piled up big innings, stolen bases, and enough drama to keep everyone talking all week long.

Hopewell wasted no time jumping into action. In the top of the first inning, they struck first with a theatrical steal of home followed by a walk that pushed in a run, a crafty single that tacked on another, and a dropped third strike that turned into two more tallies. Suddenly, Hopewell was up 5-0 before Freedom even stepped into the batter’s box. But Freedom answered immediately in the bottom of the frame with a five-run eruption of their own. A perfectly executed inside-the-park homer kicked things off, and timely singles later in the inning pushed Freedom to a 5-4 advantage.

The second inning saw Hopewell remind everyone why they’re experts at turning games on their head. Three hits produced a five-run surge—capped by a clutch, full-count single that drove in a pair—erasing Freedom’s lead and putting Hopewell ahead, 10-5. The third inning brought another momentum swing: Hopewell added a run when Angel laced an RBI single, making it 11-10 in favor of the visitors. But Freedom refused to relent. In their half of the third, a string of singles and a dropped third strike allowed Freedom to retake the lead at 13-11, setting the stage for even more fireworks.

Hopewell’s fourth inning was nothing short of spectacular. Three more hits—including a two-RBI double from Aubrey—ignited a five-run outburst and swung the game back to their side, 16-13. By now, the scoreboard read like a pinball machine, but Hopewell’s offense kept churning. Although Freedom managed to push one more run across in their half of the fourth, it wasn’t enough to catch up, and Hopewell held on for the 17-14 victory.

On the pitching side, Hopewell’s Aubrey came in to slam the door for three innings of relief, fanning six and allowing just four runs (only one earned) on five hits. The earlier starter, Meier, had a tough go—but Aubrey’s clutch performance in the circle helped the team swing back. Defensively, Hopewell was flawless, recording zero errors and absolutely relentless on the base paths—racking up 13 stolen bases as a team. Angel, Lacey, and Aubrey each had two hits, but it was Aubrey and Lacey’s combined six RBIs (three a piece) that were the real game-changers. Tayla also made her presence felt, drawing three walks and swiping multiple bags along with Sofia and Lily. And with six chances in the field, Sofia showcased why Hopewell’s defense was so steady all afternoon.

For Freedom, the bats stayed hot even in defeat—10 hits in total. Their energy never wavered, making this one of those classic “never say die” efforts that rec ball is all about.

In the end, it was Hopewell’s timely hitting, opportunistic baserunning, and lock-down relief pitching that secured a memorable 17-14 win. Both teams left it all on the field, and anyone in the stands Tuesday witnessed the kind of high-octane, action-packed softball that makes rec fast-pitch leagues so much fun.