Mike Vukovcan MOON TOWNSHIP– In preparation for the upcoming Pony League All-Star qualifying tournament, the 376 Beaver County 14U All-Star Team took on the 2025 WPAL Stars in an exhibition game.
The 376 Beaver County All-Star team is made up of players from Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley and Hopewell. The two players from Hopewell are Andrew Arzberger and Luke Vukovcan.
This team will have another exhibition game next week before starting the qualifying tournament on July 24th. This will be a double-elimination tournament of teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The winner of this 4-day tournament will qualify for the 2025 Pony League World Series.
The objective of tonight’s exhibition game was for the coaching staff to see this group of talented players in game action tomorrow.
Players rotated playing different positions throughout the game and a pitcher was only used for one inning, unless they had a quick inning with a low pitch count.
Here’s a recap of tonight’s opening win for the Beaver County squad.
BOTTOM OF 1ST INNING: Luke Vukovcan got the start for the 376 All-Stars and had a quick, efficient opening inning as he needed only 11 pitches. After allowing an opening walk, the first out came as Vukovcan fielded a sacrifice bunt and threw to first base. With a runner at 2nd and 1 out, the inning ended on a fly ball to Colby Cutshall in center and then on a ground ball to Brandon Woefel, who fired it over to first base. Scoreless after one.
TOP OF 2ND INNING: Team 376 got on the scoreboard in the second inning. Cole Harvey was hit to lead off the winning. Next up, Vukovcan drew a walk to put two runners on. After a groundout advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd, O.C. Burkhead laced a triple to center field to drive in both runners and 376 took a 2-0 lead. After back-to-back walks, Dylan Hamilton singled to drive in Burkhead. 376 All-Stars led 3-0.
BOTTOM OF 2ND: Vukovcan came out to pitch the 2nd and struck out the first batter on 4 pitches. The WPAL Stars scored on a 2-out double but Vukovcan limited them to 1-run by ending the inning on a groundout to Hamilton at shortstop. 376 All-Stars 3-1.
TOP OF 3RD INNING: The 376 All-Stars quickly added to their lead this inning. Woefel led things off with a hard single to left field. Next up, Noah Kraus crushed a deep double to center, with advanced Woefel to third base. With runners at 2nd and 3rd, Caleb Haney grounded out to short, which scored Woefel and the lead went back to 3 runs. After Harvey and Vukovcan walked to load the bases, Kraus would then score on a wild pitch. 376 All-Stars led 5-1.
BOTTOM OF 3RD: Burkhead came on to pitch the 3rd inning. With 1 on and 0 out, the WPAL runner tried to steal second but was gunned down by Harvey. The final 2 outs came from a strikeout and a grounder to Kraus at second base.
BOTTOM OF 4TH: JJ Kearney came on to pitch and he was as efficient as you can be. Kearney got the first 2 outs on just 2 pitches. The first on a pop up to Harvey at first base and then on a fly ball to Burkhead in center field. Kearney then recorded the third out on a strikeout. For the inning, JJ needed just 7 total pitches.
TOP OF 5TH: After pitching an outstanding bottom of the 4th, Kearney swung at the first pitch in the 5th inning and hit a deep triple to center field. With 1 out, Kearney crossed the plate for run No. 6 as Kraus did his job and put the ball in play with a ground out to score Kearney. 376 All-Stars 6-1.
BOTTOM OF 5TH: Kearney came back out to pitch the 5th and recorded another scoreless frame. After allowing a leadoff single, Kearney recorded the next 3 batters on a fly out to Cutshall in center, a groundout to Woefel at third. The final out came as Kearney picked off the runner at second with a nasty move.
**The 2025 WPAL All-Stars got back in the game with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to cut the 376 All-Star’s lead to just 6-4.
BOTTOM OF 7TH: Caleb Haney came on to try and close the game and he did just that. The WPAL All-Stars got their leadoff hitter on but he was retired on a fielder’s choice, 3rd baseman Woefel to 2nd baseman Kearney. 1 out. The next batter walked to put two runners on but Haney then recorded a strikeout on a nasty off-speed pitch. 2 outs. The game then ended as Hamilton fielded a ball deep in the hole and fired it over to first.
GAME OVER!
FINAL SCORE: 376 BEAVER COUNTY ALL-STARS 6 2025 WPAL ALL-STARS 4
