Hopewell Pony League Baseball
Trio Of Hopewell Pitchers Lead Vikings to 5-3 Win over Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls– The biggest ingredient for success of the 2024 Hopewell Pony League team continued tonight as they took on a 5-win Beaver Falls team.
The trio of Collin Davis, Andrew Arzberger and James Armstrong combined to hold Beaver Falls to 3 runs and the Vikings offense continues to scuffle but found a way to bring 5 runs home enroute to a 5-3 win. The victory improves Hopewell to 4-1-1 on the season.
On their 5-game unbeaten streak, Hopewell pitchers have gone 31 innings, allowing just 10 runs and striking out 47 batters.
When a team is only allowing on average 2 runs a game, they’re going to have a really strong chance to win and that’s exactly what the Vikings are doing.
Taking a look at the offensive and pitching box score:
Collin Davis: 2 for 3
James Armstrong: 1-2 (double), 2 runs, 1 walk, 2 SB
Camden Hoth: 1 for 3, 1 RBI
Luke Vukovcan: 1 for 1, 2 walks, SB
Jaxsen Covalt: 2 walks, 1 run, 2 SB
Jacob Durkin: 2 walks
Davis: 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 walk, 5 K’s
Arzberger: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 walks, 3 K’s
Armstrong: 1 IP, 1 run, 1 walk, 0 K’s
Here’s a recap of the key plays from Hopewell’s latest win.
For any pitcher to be successful, they need to get help from their defense and the Vikings pitchers received that tonight. Hopewell committed just one error tonight and that’s coming off an errorless game against Central Valley.
In the top of the 1st, the leadoff BF hitter reached base but was erased when the No. 2 hitter lined out to center and CF James Armstrong fired the ball to first baseman Andrew Arzberger to double off the runner. Davis then ended the inning by striking out Quinn swinging.
Hopewell got on the board first in the bottom of the first as Hoth drove in Armstrong with a 2-out single. Hopewell led 1-0.
More good Hopewell defense in the top of the 3rd as Jayvion Lindsey threw to Hoth at third cutting down a BF runner that was trying to advance from second to third.
In the Beaver Falls 4th, they advance a runner to 2nd with 2 outs, but Davis ended their chance by striking out Roppa looking.
The game was tied at 1 going to the bottom of the 4th when Hopewell scored two important runs.
Arzberger led off the inning and reached base on a dropped third strike. Hopewell would then score as the next five batters walked. With 2 outs, Covalt, Durkin, Noah Ciminella and Lindsey all walked, which brought in 2 runs. Hopewell led 3-1 after 4 innings.
Beaver Falls scored a run to cut the Hopewell lead to 3-2 and were threatening for more. With 2 runners on and just 1 out, Coach Brandon Davis went to this bullpen and brought in Arzberger, which turned out to be the key sequence of the game.
The lefty came on and immediately struck out Quinn on 3 pitches. Then with 2 outs, Feely hit a fly ball to RF Durkin, who made the catch and allowed Hopewell to remain on top, 3-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Hopewell got that run back as Armstrong led off with a double to left field. Boo then stole third base and scored as the catchers throw went into left field. Hopewell led 4-2.
Nothing doing for Beaver Falls in their 6th as Arzberger struck out the first batter of the inning. Then after a single, Reed Budavich caught a fly ball in right field and Arzberger ended the inning by striking out Crespo.
Hopewell extended the lead to 5-2 in the 6th inning as Budavich led off the inning with a walk and would eventually score from third on a wild pitch.
With a comfortable lead, Coach Davis brought in Armstrong for the final frame to close things out and that’s exactly what he did.
Boo fielded two ground balls from the mound and the game ended on a pop up to Arzberger at first.
Winning is Fun!!
Next up for Hopewell Pony League is a road game at Ellwood City on Thursday.
