Team Kessler Holds Off Late Rally to Beat Team South Side 8–6

Team Kessler jumped out to an early lead and held off a determined rally from Team South Side to secure an 8–6 win on Wednesday evening.

Kessler built a strong cushion through the first few innings, powered by steady bats and sharp baserunning. Malik Shegog was on fire at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with singles in the first, third, and fourth innings. He set the tone early and helped spark multiple scoring opportunities.

South Side struck first in the first inning, bringing in a run on a fielder’s choice. But Kessler responded quickly in the bottom half, with Malik’s single and a fielder’s choice by Blake Kosta each adding a run to swing the lead back.

Kessler continued the offensive push in the third, stringing together base hits from Malik Shegog, Grayden McNally, and Lincoln Zurenko, along with a South Side error, to tack on more runs and widen the lead.

South Side wasn’t going away quietly, though. In the later innings, they chipped away at the deficit with a series of hits, a groundout, and a key error to tighten the game. Colt and Dontae D led the comeback effort, combining for four hits. Colt, hitting in the heart of the lineup, drove in two runs and finished 2-for-4 on the night.

Despite the late surge from South Side, Kessler’s early offensive output proved to be just enough. The team collected 13 hits overall, with standout performances from Grayden McNally, Hayes Singletary, and Malik Shegog—each recording three hits.

It was a full team effort highlighted by great defensive plays and a strong test of resilience for Kessler, who managed to stay composed and hold off a determined South Side squad down the stretch.

With the win, Hopewell 8U ‘HSN’ continues their playoff journey riding a wave of momentum — and some very hot bats into the semifinals.