Mike Vukovcan BELL ACRES– Game by game, the Hopewell Colt Baseball team continues to get better and display promise for the future.
The latest example of that took place last night as they defeated Quaker Valley, 15-3, in the first game of a double-header. Quaker Valley entered that game with a record of 8-1.
Established in 1986, family owned and serving the Beaver County community for over 40 years. Serving breakfast favorites and lunch specials.
The second game was ruled a no-contest due to the darkness and will be re-played next week.
In the 5-inning game, Hopewell scored 15 runs, collected 10 hits and committed just 1 error in the field. Four Hopewell players had multiple hits but the best player on the field last night was shortstop Vin Smetana.
Smetana went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, a walk and drove in 4 runs and continues to show pop in his bat as he pounded two doubles.
This Colt season, Smetana is hitting .375 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and an OPS of 1.054.
Centerfielder Josh Gill went 3-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBI, first baseman Andrew Arzberger went 2-for-3 with 3 runs, a walk and an RBI and catcher Luke Vukovcan went 2-for-3 with a HBP and a run scored.
Hopewell’s Josh Gill
As a whole, this team is getting better at the plate as their statistic show.
Tyler Hoffman (24 at-bats): .529 average, .583 OBP, 1.113 OPS, .529 Slugging %, 7 RBI
Andrew Arzberger (31-at-bats): .478 average, .581 OBP, 1.146 OPS, .565 Slugging%, 8 RBI
Vin Smetana (28 at-bats): .375 average, .429 OBP, 1.054 OPS, .625 Slugging %, 8 RBI
Josh Gill (22 at-bats): .375 average, .545 OBP, 1.108 OPS, .562 Slugging %, 8 RBI
Luke Vukovcan (29 at-bats): .455 average, 586 OBP, 1.177 OPS, 591 Slugging %, 4 RBI
Ethan Adams (37-at-bats): .333 average, .657 OBP, .990 OPS, .333 Slugging %, 7 RBI
Hopewell’s Ethan Adams
Aside from the hitting, the defense was on full display Thursday night and supported the pitching of Vukovcan, who got the start.
Aside from at the plate, Smetana played a strong game defensively as he recorded 6 outs in the field, including the first 4 outs of the game for the Vikings.
Hoffman had a strong game behind the plate including throwing out runners attempting to steal in the 3rd inning and 4th innings.
With the win, Hopewell improved their record to 6-5, the first time this season they’re over. 500.
Next week is the last week of the regular season and they’ll have 5 games (Monday thru Friday).
Monday: at Weirton
Tuesday: vs. Weirton
Wednesday: vs. Ambridge
Thursday: vs. South Side
Friday: at Quaker Valley
The Beaver County Colt League Playoffs is scheduled to get underway on Monday, July 6th.
