Mike Vukovcan BEAVER FALLS– Hopewell’s Team Hoffman Pony League team is now 2-0 following last night’s 6-2 win over Beaver Falls.
This ended up being a game dominated by pitching as both teams combined for just 7 hits (Hopewell 4 and Beaver Falls 3).
Established in 1986, family owned and serving the Beaver County community for over 40 years. Serving breakfast favorites and lunch specials.
Here’s something you don’t see very often but of the 21 outs recorded by Hopewell, 20 came via the strikeout.
Coach Hoffman used 3 pitchers to earn the win, Connor Reed, Liam Rankin and Vin Smetana. Because of two more games this week, Hoffman kept his pitchers on a strict pitch count in order to preserve their availability for the rest of the week.
Reed got the start and went 2.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run (0 earned runs), 0 walks and struck out 7 batters. Rankin relieved him and went on to go for the next 3.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 run (0 earned runs), and 10 strikeouts. Smetana closed things out by pitching the 7th inning, holding BF to 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Reed threw 50 pitchers (35 for strikes), Rankin 46 pitches (34 strikes) and Smetana 23 pitches (11 strikes).
Offensively, Reed, Tyler Hoffman, Austin Gallagher and Channing Yesionek picked up hits for Hopewell, while Hoffman, Gallagher and Yesionek (2) were RBI getters for the Vikings.
Top of 1st Inning: Hoffman singles in Smetana, who reached on an error to start the game. Hopewell 1-0-.
Top of 6th Inning: With 2 outs, Reed singled, stole second and scored on a BF error. Following a walk to Kruz Krotec, Gallagher came thru with an RBI single. Krotec then scored on a passed ball and Yesionek delivered a 2-run single to center. Hopewell led 6-1.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 6 BEAVER FALLS 2
Hopewell/Team Hoffman is scheduled to have a game tonight at Blackhawk. We’ll see if they’re able to get it in with the rain.
