Mike Vukovcan Hopewell Township – Â After sweeping West Mifflin in a double-header yesterday, the Hopewell freshman baseball team was back in action this afternoon against the Moon Tigers.
Right-handler Luke Vukovcan got the start, which was his first start this season. The rust showed early on but as the game progressed, he looked more comfortable on the mound.
Hopewell softball and youth baseball is sponsored by Lisa McCoy, your neighborhood State Farm agent.
Vukovcan’s velocity on his fast ball was good so it was just a matter of locating it in the zone because when he did, he was effective.
In the end, Moon was the better team and came away with an 11-6 win. Jack Ambrozic started for Moon and was tremendous. The big right-hander went the first 3 innings and his stuff was electric. Ambrozic pitched 3 innings, allowing just 1 hit, 0 runs, while striking out 7 batters.
As Vikings Sports Now always does, we look for positives even in defeat.
**RHP Reed Budavich certainly was that for Hopewell as he went 4.1 innings, allowing 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks and striking out 6 batters.
Hopewell’s Reed Budavich
**Despite committing 4 errors, Hopewell did make some nice defensive plays: LF Ryan Gaguzis made a great running catch late in the game, C Gunner Reese located a foul ball and made the catch, 3B Cam Hoth showed nice range moving to his left to field a ball and fire it to Andrew Arzberger at first and Arzberger made a nice running catch in foul territory.
Hopewell’s Ryan Gaguzis
*Josh Gill continues to be productive from the No. 2 hole as he went 2-for-3. This after going 4-for-5 in yesterday’s double-header.
Hopewell’s Josh Gill
*Vukovcan was productive from the cleanup spot driving in Hopewell’s first run with a RBI single to right. Then later in the game, Luke hit a deep sacrifice fly to center, which scored Gill.
Hopewell’s Luke Vukovcan
*Ethan Adams continues to impress me with his grit and scrappiness. Adams is a professional hitter that does his job by putting the ball in play and more times than not gets the job done in the field.
Hopewell’s Ethan Adams
*The freshman team has a week off before taking on Montour next Thursday at home.
