Building Development and Fun in Hopewell 8U Fall Ball

As a coach of one Hopewell 8U fall ball team, I’ve always believed this season is about development, confidence, and fun before anything else. Wins are exciting and of course everyone enjoys them, but my real goal is to make sure every player grows and learns the game. Fall ball is the perfect environment to focus on fundamentals, try new things, and see progress week after week.

That progress has been on full display already this season. In our first game, we were mercy-ruled, which is never fun for the kids—but what has followed has been exactly the type of improvement we hope for. Each game we’ve taken steps forward, closing the gap against strong opponents and, just as importantly, watching every single player contribute on the field.

“We outhit Beaver Falls 23–21, and every single player reached base at least once.”

Our matchup against Beaver Falls on Monday was another great example. The scoreboard showed an 11–7 loss, but the story of the game was how well our kids played. We outhit Beaver Falls 23–21, and every single player found their way on base at least once. That’s a huge accomplishment for an 8U team learning to adjust at the plate and keep their composure in big moments.

Emmett Metzger had a truly outstanding game, going a perfect five-for-five at the plate. He singled in the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings, collecting base hit after base hit and setting the tone for our offense. From the bottom of the lineup, Brody Lopez delivered as well—driving in two runs and finishing with a three-for-four day. Performances like these show our depth and prove that contributions come from every spot in the order.

“Emmett Metzger was perfect at the plate, going 5-for-5 to lead Hopewell’s offense.”

But it wasn’t just Emmett and Brody. Dominic Santamaria, Blake Kosta, Barrett Wheeler, Lincoln Zurenko, and Joshua Kolodziek all collected multiple hits, keeping pressure on Beaver Falls all game long. When you have nearly your entire lineup producing offensively, you know the work in practice is paying off.

Defensively, I was just as proud. The kids played error-free baseball, something we emphasize heavily in practice. Kids were moved around and have been consistently all season it’s not about posting up in the same spot all game during Fall Ball.  This is the time where kids get to experience different positions and gain valuable experience working on fundamental baseball. At this age, focus on defense can sometimes waver, but we’re making progress each week at staying locked in on every pitch. Follow through with the play even though the runner is safe, make the throw!

What I stress to our families—and to our players—is that fall ball is not about the standings. It’s about moments like these: a team bouncing back from early-season struggles, players stepping up with big games, and the group as a whole learning how to play the right way. From looking for extra-base hits instead of settling for singles, to staying sharp on defense, to bringing energy into warm-ups and starting games with intensity—these are the habits we’re building.

I know it’s not easy for families to haul out to fields  for 5:30 starts, but the support is invaluable. These kids are improving because of the commitment from everyone involved—players, parents, and coaches together.

We may not have walked away with the win against Beaver Falls, but I walked away proud. We out-hit our opponent, every player contributed, and we took another step forward in our journey. The kids are doing great, and I can’t wait to see how much further they’ll go.