Mike Vukovcan NEW CASTLE- The Hopewell Colt baseball team rebounded from a tough opening game loss to Blackhawk and played a solid-team performance to defeat New Castle, 11-3.
This was an all-around team performance as 7 players collected hits, 5 players drove in runs and most importantly, the Vikings got above average pitching.
Established in 1986, family owned and serving the Beaver County community for over 40 years. Serving breakfast favorites and lunch specials.
Josh Gill got the start and went 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 runs (0 earned runs) and struck out 1. Credit Gill for pitching well despite having pitched in well over a year.
Luke Vukovcan pitched the 3rd inning and needed only 12 pitches as he struck out 2 batters. He was also helped out by catcher Tyler Hoffman gunning down a runner attempting to steal second. Hoffman has an outstanding game behind the plate.
Jaxsen Covalt pitched the remaining 4 innings and was outstanding. The key to Covalt’s success was his ability to throw strikes.
Covalt pitched 4 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 1 run (0 earned runs), 0 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Offensively, Vin Smetana and Vukovcan did the job at the top of the order. Smetana (batting leadoff) and Vukovcan (hitting 2nd) combined to go 5 for 9 with 3 runs and 4 RBI.
Vukovcan went 3-for-5, with a double and 3 RBI, while Smetana was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI.
Reed Budavich reached base 3 times (2 walks and a single), Channing Yesionek collected a single and was hit by a pitch, Ethan Adams reached base 3 times (walk and hit by pitch twice), while Andrew Arzberger, Tyler Hoffman and Josh Gill also picked up hits.
RBI getters for Hopewell were Smetana (1), Vukovcan (3), Gill (1), Yesionek (1), and Mason Santamaria (1).
Hopewell (1-1) have the weekend off and will return to action on Tuesday when they host Riverside.
