Mike Vukovcan Raccoon Township- Coach Chip Hoffman’s Hopewell Pony League opened up their 2025 season tonight as they hosted Central Valley.
The old baseball saying ‘Good Pitching Beats Good Hitting’ and that was the case tonight as Luke Vukovcan and Ryder Kostrick were on their game.
Vukovcan got the start and went 4 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run (0 earned runs) and struck out 9 batters.
Kostrick come on in the fifth and pitched the next two innings, allowing only 1 hit, 0 runs, and striking out 4.
Right-handed Reed Budavich came on in the final inning and after a slow start, stayed strong to close things out to preserve the win.
Game Recap-Â
*Top of First- This was the only inning that CV threatened to score against Vukovcan. After retiring the opening two batters of the game, the next three reached via a single and two walks. However, with the bases loaded, Vukovcan got out unscathed by recording one his his nine strikeouts.
*Bottom First- Some 2-out lightning got Hopewell on the board. After 2 out, Tyler Hoffman stroked a hard single to center field, which was followed by a hard single to center by Vukovcan. Next up, with runners at 1st and 3rd, Reed Budavich connect with a hard single to left center. Hoffman scored and so Vukovcan, who was running on the pitch and scored all the way from first. Hopewell led 2-0.
*Top of Second- A much more efficient inning as Vukovcan needed only 7 pitches. The first out came on a groundout to Budavich at first, followed by two strikeouts.
*Bottom of the Second- Hopewell increased their lead with 2 more runs. Ryder Kostrick led off with a sublet center and after stealing second, Ryder scored on consecutive wild pitches. David Johnson reached via a walk and would eventually score on a wild pitch. Hopewell led 4-0.
*Bottom of Third- Two more runs for Hopewell and both scored after two outs. After 1 out, Vin Smetana reached on a walk. Then with 2 outs, Vukovcan doubled to left center and Smetana advanced to third. Budavich followed that with a walk so with the bases loaded, Kostrick came thru with a hard single to left, scoring Smetana and Vukovcan. Hopewell led 6-1.
*Top of Fourth- Because of pitch count, this was Vukovcan’s last inning. After allowing a leadoff double, Luke went on to strike out the next three batters.
Hopewell’s Luke Vukovcan
*Top of Fifth- Kostrick came on and was dominant, striking out two batters with the final out coming on a pop up to Smetana at short.
*Bottom of Fifth- Hopewell added to their lead in the fifth. With 1 out, Smetana singled and advanced to third on a single by Hoffman. Then with runners on the corners, Vukovcan drove in Smetana with a deep fly ball to right. Hopewell led 7-1.
*Top of Sixth- Kostrick had another easy inning as he struck out two more batters. Kostrick threw 30 pitches in two innings, 19 of which were strikes.
Hopewell’s Ryder Kostrick
*Top of Seventh- Budavich came on to close and after walking a few batters, Reed came back to struck out the last two batters to end the game.
Final Score- Hopewell 7 Central Valley 5
Hopewell’s Team Hoffman is off until next Tuesday when they travel to Beaver Falls.
