Mike Vukovcan RIVERSIDE– For the second time in three years, Hopewell are the Western Pennsylvania Pony League Champions!
Tonight, in Game Two of the Best of Three Series, Hopewell mounted a major comeback and defeated host Riverside, 16-10.
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Congratulations to Hopewell HC Chip Hoffman, assistant coaches B.J. Rankin, Bryan Yesionek, Jared Reed and the entire roster. Hopewell was clearly the best team in the league all season as they finished the regular season and playoffs with a record of 17-0-1.
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Tonight’s championship game had so many twists and turns, but the bottom line is that every time this teams’ backs were against the wall, they responded like champions.
Riverside jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, but Hopewell didn’t blink and as they did in Game 1, they chipped away at the deficit and eventually took the lead with a 6-run 4th inning.
A huge sequence took place in the bottom of the 6th inning as the game was tied at 10-all as Riverside had runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Riverside attempted to execute a bunt, but pitcher Vin Smetana quickly got off the mound, caught the ball and fired to Austin Gallagher at third to double off the runner.
With the game tied at 10 going to the final inning, the Hopewell offense exploded for a 6-run 7th inning, which iced the championship.
Here was the final out of the game as Smetana recorded a strikeout to bring the championship trophy back to Hopewell.
Like Kruz Krotec did yesterday, Smetana stepped up in a big-time way tonight as took the mound and needed to keep his team in the game.
Smetana did more than that as the pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run and struck out 3 batters.
Hopewell received clutch pitching, but they won tonight’s game because of their bats as they collected 15 hits.
The top two hitters in the lineup combined for 6 hits as Smetana and Krotec each banged out 3 hits apiece and scored 5 runs. Smetana also reached base twice via walks.
As he’s done all season, Tyler Hoffman came through for his team as he went 2-for-5 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Liam Rankin also had a big game going 2-for-4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs.
Rankin also played huge role earlier in the game on the mound as he came in with team trailing and kept the game within reach. Rankin pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 4 batters.
Gallagher, Channing Yesionek, Nico Yannessa, Evan Vogel and Rhett Rankin also picked up hits for Hopewell. Gallagher (1), Yesionek (2) and Yannessa (1) also recorded RBIs.
This is a memorable way for a number of these players to end their Pony League careers as they now move onto Colt League and attempt to earn a spot on the Hopewell High School baseball roster.
Once again, congratulations to everyone involved and as we say on Vikings Sports Now, ‘Winning is Fun’, especially when you talk about championships!
