Mike Vukovcan CENTER TOWNSHIP– Prior to the season, VSN spoke with Hopewell JH Baseball Coach B.J. Rankin who told us that he felt the strength of his team this season is the depth of quality pitchers.
At least for one game, Rankin was spot on as the Hopewell Junior High Baseball team opened the season this afternoon with a dramatic 1-0 win over Central Valley.
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The pitching on both teams was tremendous but the key to the game was Hopewell’s defense along with the 1-run they scored in the 2nd inning.
Hopewell’s Vin Smetana
This game was only 5 innings because the two teams will be playing a double-header today. The first game was Hopewell’s Blue team, which is made up of mostly 8th graders. The second game will be with their Gold team, which consists of mostly 7th graders.
Because it was the first game of the season and because they have a game on Saturday, Rankin kept his pitchers on a pitch count and ended up using 4 pitchers (Ty Hoffman, Ryder Kostrick, Channing Yesionek and Liam Rankin).
Hopewell’s Tyler Hoffman
Hoffman got the start and was outstanding as he went 2 innings, allowing 0 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4 batters. Kostrick pitched a scoreless 3rd inning, allowing 1 hit and struck out one. Yesionek pitched the 4th inning, allowing 1 hit and struck out 2 batters. Rankin closed the game and recorded 1 strikeout.
HOPEWELL/CENTRAL VALLEY GAME RECAP:
Top of 1st: Hoffman struck out the first two batters of the game and caught a pop up back to the mound to record a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Top of 2nd: The leadoff hitter for CV reached via a walk to open the second but Hoffman stayed strong on induced a pop to 1st baseman Will Enders and then struck out the next two batters.
Bottom of 2nd: Hoffman got things going for Hopewell in the second as he hit a line drive double to right field. Yesionek then drew a walk and Hoffman eventually scored on a ground ball to short by Rankin. That was important because it was the only run of the game. Hopewell led 1-0.
Top of 3rd: Kostrick had no problems in the 3rd as he started the inning off with a strikeout and then recorded the next two outs on grounders to 2nd baseman Mason Santamaria.
Top of 4th:Â Rarely do you see two outs at the plate in a junior high game, but it happened today by Hopewell. A huge play, CV had a runner at 1st with 2 outs when the batter hit a deep fly ball to left field. The runner at first attempted to score but Hopewell executed a perfect relay play at the plate as Nico Yannessa made a strong throw to SS Vin Smetana who then fired a strike to catcher Will Enders, who put the tag on the runner. Big-time play!!
Top of 5th: That play was nice, but the next one was even better because it worked and ended the game. The leadoff hitter walked to open the last inning. After a fly ball to RF Brandon Cecchini and a strikeout, CV had a runner at 2nd with 2 outs. The next batter singled to left and Yannessa came up throwing and made a perfect throw to the plate as Hoffman caught the ball and put on the tag.
Game Over, Hopewell wins 1-0.
Great start to the season Vikings!! Next up is a game on Saturday afternoon against Ambridge.
