Congratulations to the Hopewell’s Team Hoffman/Pony League team as they won the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Pony League regular season championship.
Last night, that team defeated Beaver/Team Eimiller, 14-1, which meant they concluded the regular season with a record of 12-0-1.
376 WESTERN PA PONY LEAGUE STANDINGS
Hopewell/Team Hoffman: 12-0-1
Riverside/Giles: 11-2
Blackhawk/DeChicko: 8-2-2
New Brighton/Rosalinds: 8-3
Ambridge: 7-5
(Those are the top five teams, pending outcome of games this week, 13 games in regular season)
HOPEWELL/BEAVER RECAP
Unlike their last few games, last night’s contest wasn’t much of one as this game only lasted 5 innings due to the 10-run rule.
In those 5 innings, Hopewell collected 14 hits and were once again led by shortstop Vin Smetana, who went 3-for-4 with 4 runs and an RBI.
Tyler Hoffman, Liam Rankin and Bennett Tomei each picked up 2 hits, while Smetana (1), Hoffman (2), Christian Yesionek (1), Liam Rankin (2), Austin Gallagher (1), Channing Yesionek (2), Tomei (1) and Kruz Krotec (1) collected RBIs for Hopewell.
5 of the 14 hits were extra base hits as Rankin (2), Tomei, Hoffman and Smetana cranked out doubles.
HC Hoffman didn’t extend any of his pitchers as Channing Yesionek, Hoffman and Smetana took the mound.
Yesionek started and went 3 innings, blanking Beaver with 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Hoffman pitched the 4th inning, allowing 1 hit, 1 run and striking out 1. Smetana closed the game out with a scoreless 5th inning as he struck out 2 batters.
“The effort this team put forth this season was awesome,” said Hoffman. “Coming up in the playoffs, we will no doubt be tested. We were able to beat some really good teams this season and will have to do it again in order to have a shot at winning the championship.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Hopewell/Team Hoffman will have the rest of the week off as the rest of the teams in the league conclude their regular seasons conclude on Thursday.
At this point, possible playoff opponents are known yet but due to winning the regular season championship, Hopewell will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
As far as Hopewell’s other Pony League team/Team Dunn, they currently have a record of 4-5-2 with 2 games left and control their own destiny.
Team Dunn could finish as high as 5th or 6th, and if that happens, that’s a noticeable accomplishment for baseball in Hopewell to have two teams possible finish in the top 5 or 6 of a 14-team league. IMO, that speaks of the talent level we currently have here in Hopewell.
