Mike Vukovcan WEST VIRGINIA– It was a productive night for the Hopewell Colt League baseball team as they split a double-header tonight with Chester Jr. Post (West Virginia).
With this double-header, both games were only 5 innings contests.
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In Game One, Hopewell held a 3-1 lead heading to the bottom of the 4th inning before Chester scored 3 runs, which was the difference as they went on to win 4-3.
Owen Ackerman got the start and pitched well as he went 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Despite scoring 3 runs, Hopewell only managed 3 hits, two of which came from Tyler Hoffman, who went 2-for-2 and 2 RBI.
Game Two was a different story as the Vikings played well in all 3 phases- pitching, hitting and defense.
The big hit of the game which got things started was a 2-out, bases clearing double by Reed Budavich in the first inning that gave Hopewell a 3-0 lead. Ackerman followed that with an RBI single that brought in Budavich and Hopewell led 4-0.
In the Top of the 2nd, Ethan Adams hit an opposite field single to right field, which scored Anthony Ventresca and Andrew Arzberger, who both walked. Hopewell led 6-1.
Vin Smetana stepped to the plate next and smashed an RBI triple to left field scoring Adams, Hopewell led 7-1. This is Smetana’s second consecutive game with a triple as he also ripped one yesterday to deep left field against New Castle.
Hoffman kept his solid hitting going as he then singled to left to drive in Smetana and Hopewell extended their lead to 8-1. Following a single by Jaxsen Covalt and a wild pitch, Hoffman came home on an RBI groundout by Budavich.
The beneficiary of this run support was Channing Yesionek, who was extremely effective.
Hopewell’s Channing Yesionek
Yesionek went 4 innings allowing just 1 hit, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Channing pitched to contact and trusted the guys behind him who got the job done for their pitcher.
1ST INNING: First out comes on a groundout to Smetana at shortstop and the inning ended on a flyout to Ackerman in left field.
2ND INNING: First out was made on a fly out to Budavich in center field and other two outs on grounders to Smetana at short and Adams at second base.
3RD INNING: Two more groundouts in the third, including another play made by Smetana and Yesionek fielding a comebacker to the mound.
4TH INNING: Hoffman caught a flyout in left field to start the 4th and the inning ended on a ground out to Covalt at second base.
5TH INNING: Smetana pitched the 5th inning and recorded 2 strikeouts before ending the game on a groundout to Arzberger at first base.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 10 CHESTER 1
Hopewell evens their record at 5-5 and will have another double-header tomorrow as they travel to 1st place Quaker Valley.
