Mike Vukovcan Hopewell’s/Team Hoffman continued their perfect week last night with an impressive 6-2 win over Central Valley.
This was Hopewell’s third game in 3 days, and the Vikings have won all three games. Their week isn’t finished as they’ll be tested tonight as they have to travel to take on Riverside.
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When you’re forced to play this many games in a row, your pitching depth becomes challenged because of the pitch count all these players are on. Fortunately for Coach Chip Hoffman and his staff, they’re blessed to have a roster full of players that can pitch.
A&S Federal Credit Union are proud sponsors of Hopewell Boys and Girls High School, Junior High and Youth Sports.
On Tuesday, Connor Reed, Liam Rankin and Vin Smetana took the mound for Hopewell. On Wednesday, it was Channing Yesionek and Rhett Rankin. Last night, Tyler Hoffman and Rhett Rankin were able to limit CV to just 4 hits, while striking out 10 batters.
Central Valley gave Hopewell their biggest test of the season as this game was tied 2-2 as we went to the bottom of the 6th inning. Hopewell was able to plate 4 runs to re-take the lead and earned them the victory.
RECAPPING HOPEWELL’S 4-RUN 6TH INNING:
-Reed led off with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and then stole third. Following walks to Hoffman and Liam Rankin and an out, Kruz Krotec came up with the big hit of the game, a 2-run double to left field, which scored Reed and Hoffman. Then with 2 outs and a walk to Dom Yannessa, Rhett Rankin drew a walk to score pinch-runner Ethan Bollinger. Krotec then scored on a passed ball and Hopewell took a 6-2 lead.
Hopewell’s Kruz Krotec
STRONG DEFENSE BY HOPEWELL:
-A day after committing 3 errors, Hopewell cleaned things up by playing an error free game.
1ST Inning: Yannessa caught two fly balls to right field and Yesionek brought in a pop up to second base.
2ND Inning: Smetana caught a line out and Krotec ended the second inning by catching a fly ball to center.
4TH Inning: Yeionek turned an unassisted double play to second base to clean things up in this inning after CV lead off with a walk.
5TH Inning: No defense needed in the fifth as Hoffman took care of things himself by striking out the side.
6TH Inning: Hoffman and Rankin both struck out a batter in the sixth before the frame ended on a ground out to Austin Gallagher at third.
7TH Inning: Smetana recorded the first out of the final inning with a fielder’s choice and the game ended like it started on a fly ball to Yannessa in right field.
On the mound: Hoffman pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and 8 strike outs. Rankin closed out the game by going 1.2 innings, allowing just 1 hit, 0 runs and striking out 2.
Hopewell’s Tyler Hoffman
HOPEWELL OFFENSIVE BOXSCORE:
*The Hopewell hitters collected 8 hits and 6 talks in the game. Reed, Hoffman and Krotec led the way with 2 hits apiece. Smetana and Bennett Tomei also recorded a hit a piece.
With the win, Hopewell improves to 4-0 and will look to remain undefeated as they take on Riverside (2-1).
HERE’S A LOOK AT THE UPDATED STANDINGS IN THE WESTERN PA PONY LEAGUE
Hopewell/Team Hoffman: 4-0
Blackhawk: 4-0-1
Riverside/Giles: 4-1
New Brighton: 3-1
Riverside/Linville: 2-1
Beaver/Marino: 2-2
CV1: 2-2
Blackhawk/DePietro: 2-2
Ambridge: 1-2
CV 2: 0-2-1
Blackhawk/Litzinger: 1-3
Hopewell/Team Dunn: 0-3-1
Beaver/Eimiller: 0-3-1
Beaver Falls: 0-3
TONIGHT:
Hopewell/Team Hoffman vs. Riverside/Linville
Hopewell/Team Dunn vs. Blackhawk/DePietro
