Hopewell Pony League Baseball
Outstanding Outing from Ryan Gaguzis Allows Hopewell Pony League to Tie South Side, 2-2
Hookstown- If you’re a baseball fan that enjoys a game with strong pitching and solid defense, Tuesday nights Pony League matchup between Hopewell and South Side was one you would have enjoyed.
Behind Collin Davis and Ryan Gaguzis, Hopewell battled to a 2-2 tie in 9 innings. The duo of Davis and Gaguzis limited South Side to just 3 hits and struck out 10 batters.
Just as impressive as the pitching Coach Yurcina received was the defense Hopewell played. In the 9 innings, Hopewell made 17 outs in the field and didn’t commit a single error.
Hopewell scored their 2 runs in the first inning on a ground ball fielders choice by Camden Hoth, which scored Davis and James Armstrong.
After the first inning, it was all about pitching and defense for the Vikings.
It was a get second as Davis fielded a come-backer to the mound and the inning ended on a ground ball to shortstop Luke Vukovcan.
In the South Side 3rd, Davis retired the side 1-2-3, which included 2 strikeouts and another grounder back to the mound.
Hopewell had a chance in the 3rd, as they got runners to 1st and 3rd and Andrew Arzberger hit a deep fly ball to center field but the South Side CF made the catch.
In the South Side 4th, the leadoff hitter reached base but Davis retired the next two hitters on strikeouts and a grounder to 3rd baseman Camden Hoth.
Hopewell had a chance in the 4th, getting runners to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but couldn’t bring them in.
Gaguzis entered the game in the 5th and baffled South Side for the next five innings.
In the 5th, Gaguzis induced a fly ball to Armstrong in CF, a strikeout and fielded a grounder back to the mound.
In the 6th, two South Side batters reached but with 2 outs, Gaguzis fielded a sharp comebacker to the mound.
In the 7th, Hoth fielded two ground balls to third and then with two on and 2 out, Hopewell got out of the jam as Jackson Yurcina smoothly fielded a sharp ground ball to second.
We went to extra innings and doing in the South Side 8th as Davis fielded two balls at shortstop.
In the 9th inning, Gaguzis remained sharp as he struck out two batters and got the 3rd out of the inning on another groundout to Davis.
In the Hopewell 9th inning, David Villanueva led off with a sharp single to RF. Then with 2 outs, an interesting situation occurred. The South Side pitcher threw a wild pitch and Villanueva advanced to second base.
So, with the game-winning run at second base with 2 outs and Armstrong up at the plate, the South Side manager decided to intentionally walk Armstrong. This despite having his best pitcher on the mound and this being just a regular season game.
The move worked as South Side got the last batter but it was a questionable move in a regular season, Pony League game.
Anyway, to recap the outstanding pitching:
Davis: 4 innings, 2 hits, 2 ER, 2 Walks and 6 Strikeouts.
Gaguzis: 5 innings, 1 hit, 0 ER, 4 Walks and 4 Strikeouts.
With the 2-2 tie, Hopewell’s 2024 record is 1-1-1. Next up is a matchup tomorrow at New Brighton. First pitch is set for 6 PM.
