Mike Vukovcan MT LEBANON– If one game is any indicator, it could be a special weekend for the Beaver County 376 Pony League All-Star Team.
While that’s nice to say and think, the reality is that things will get more difficult as this qualifying tournament advances but things got off to a perfect start with a 15-3 win over Butler in 5 innings.
This 376 Team is a deep team in terms of pitching and quality bats and both of those were on display this afternoon.
This was a tight game until the 4th innings which was when Team 376 put up an incredible 11 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, the big blow being a Grand Slam by JJ Kearney.
For the game, Team 376 outhit Butler 13-6 and were lead by Caleb Haney with 3 hits, while Dylan Hamilton, O.C. Burkhead and Kearney each had 2 hits.
In terms of RBI getters, Kearney led the way with RBI’s, Hamilton, Brody Lindsey and Cole Harvey each with 2, while Haney, Burkhead and Colby Cutshall all had 1 apiece.
“We started slow but really picked it up at the late,” said Head Coach Matt Harvey. “Our pitchers did a great job from start to finish.”
That definitely was the case as Brandon Woelfel got the start and went 1.2 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 2 runs (0 earned runs), 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Woelfel threw 40 pitches, which is likely why he didn’t finish the second. Monitoring pitch counts will be important over the next few days.
A key moment of the game was when Hopewell left-hander Andrew Arzberger entered in the bottom of the second inning. The left-hander entered with the bases loaded and 2 outs. After giving up an RBI single, Arzberger got the next Butler batter to pop up, which kept Butler’s lead to 2-0.
Arzberger went on to pitch the next 2 innings and pitched a total of 2.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and 3 strikeouts.
“Andrew pitched great,” said Coach Harvey. “Coming in with the bases loaded is not easy and he did his job to get us out of that inning.”
Immediately after falling behind 2-0, Team 376 was able to add a couple of runs to get back in the game.
Haney led off the inning by lacing a double down the third base line and after advancing to third on a passed ball, Haney scored on an RBI single by Burkhead. With 2 outs and a man on third, Hopewell’s Luke Vukovcan hit a ball up the middle which the Butler second baseman bobbled. That slight miscue, combined with Vukovcan running hard up the line, allowed him to just beat the throw. More importantly, it allowed Burkhead to score and the game was tied at 2.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Team 376 took their first lead of the game. Hamilton led things off by dropping a single into short right field. Hamilton then stole second base and scored as Kearney hit a hard RBI single to left-field. Team 376 jumped ahead 3-2.
Later in the inning, Kearney stole second base and scored as Haney roped another double down the third base line. Team 376 4-2.
In the top of the 4th inning, Butler led off the inning with back-back singles. They then attempted to be aggressive on the base pads but it didn’t work as Vukovcan threw out a runner trying to steal third base. The next 2 outs occurred on a pop up to Hamilton at shortstop and Arzberger ended the inning with a strikeout.
The impressive 11-run bottom of the 4th started with back-to-back-to back walks to Arzberger , Vukovcan and Gavin Latchaw. Hamilton then reached on an error and Arzberger scored to make it 5-2.
Then with the bases loaded, Kearney hit a deep bomb into the tree in left field to clear the bases and that essentially ended the game. Team 376 led 9-2.
Later in the inning with the bases again loaded, Harvey singled to left field, which brought in Haney and Burkhead. The lead increased to 11-2. Later, Cutshall hit a groundball RBI single to left that scored Harvey. The next two runs scored on an RBI single to left by Lindsey. Run No. 15 then came in as Hamilton drove in Lindsey.
Trailing 15-2, Butler scored a run in the top of the 5th but that was all they’d get as the game ended as Kearney induced a 4-6-3 double play.
FINAL SCORE: BEAVER COUNTY TEAM 376 ALL-STARS 15 BUTLER 3
This was a great way to start as with it being a double-elimination tournament, this win insures at least two more games for the Team 376 All-Stars.
“It’s incredibly difficult to succeed in a double-elimination tournament if you lose the first game,” said Coach Harvey. “I told the boys we need to focus on a faster start tomorrow but I was very happy with their play overall.”
Next up: a matchup tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM against the Mt. Lebanon 14U All-Stars.
