Mike Vukovcan RACCOON TOWNSHIP– Hopewell’s Team Hoffman/Pony League team is in the midst of a very busy week.
Things got underway on Tuesday with a game against Beaver Falls, followed by one last night against Blackhawk and will conclude with games tonight against Central Valley and tomorrow at Riverside.
Established in 1986, family owned and serving the Beaver County community for over 40 years. Serving breakfast favorites and lunch specials.
It goes without saying, that’s a lot of baseball.
The good news is Hopewell is 2-0 this week following last night’s 14-2 win over Blackhawk. With the win, Team Hoffman improves to 3-0, which puts them in first place.
The game last night wasn’t much of a contest as Hopewell jumped out to a 9-0 win after two innings and they cruised for the remaining 5 innings.
Offensively, Hopewell out-hit Blackhawk, 13-3 and were paced by leadoff hitter Vin Smetana, who went 3-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs.
Liam Rankin and Channing Yesionek collected 2 hits apiece, with Connor Reed, Tyler Hoffman, Austin Gallagher, Nico Yannessa, Rhett Rankin and Bennett Tomei also picked up a hit. The Vikings stayed discipline at the plate as they drew 12 walks, led by Hoffman with 3, Gallagher and Rhett Rankin, each with 2.
RBI getters for Hopewell were Rhett Rankin (3), Smetana (2), Liam Rankin (2), Yannessa (2), Gallagher (1) and Christian Yesionek (1).
Aside from the hitters doing their job, Hopewell also received outstanding pitching last night led by Channing Yesionek. The right-hander went 5.2 innings, allowing only 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned run), 2 walks and struck out 9 batters. Nice job Channing!
Rhett Rankin relieved Yesionek in the middle of the 6th and finished things out going 1.1 innings, blanking Blackhawk on 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and 1 K.
Yesionek threw 82 pitches (59 for strikes), with Rankin tossing 19 pitches (11 for strikes).
Weather permitting, Hopewell will take on Central Valley (2-1), tonight at 6 PM.
