Hopewell Beats Freedom, 16-8, One Win From Pony League Championship!

FREEDOM – Pitching has been the overriding theme in a majority of our game recaps over the last few weeks.

While Hopewell’s pitching was good tonight, the reason for tonight’s win in Game 1 of the Beaver County Pony League was doubt because of the bats.

The Vikings pounded out 16 hits leading the way to a 16-8 win over Freedom.

The top three batters in the Hopewell lineup (Jayvion Lindsey, Collin Davis and James Armstrong) went 10 for 13, with 10 runs and 6 RBI.

Those three were hot but so was the rest of the lineup. Tonight’s win was a total team win with offensive and defensive contributions from everyone.

The win improves Hopewell to an impressive 13-5-1 for the season.

As they did in the semifinals against Blackhawk, Hopewell got on the board in top of the first innings. Davis was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and would score on an RBI single to left field by Armstrong. That would be the first of season high five hits in the game for Armstrong.

Freedom answered with two runs in the bottom of the first but starting pitcher Luke Vukovcan limited the damage. After plating two, Freedom had runners had 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but Vukovcan struck out Brown and got Leasha to ground out to Camden Hoth at 3rd base.

Nothing doing for either team in the second inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Hoth fielded a ground ball and threw to Jackson Yurcina at second base for a fielder’s choice to get the first out of the inning. Then with a runner at 2nd and 1 out, Vukovcan struck out the next two Freedom hitters to end the inning.

Hopewell took back the lead in the top of the 3rd as they scored four runs.

With 1 out, Lindsey singled and after stealing second base, Jayvion would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch, as would Davis, who reached on a walk. With Armstrong at 3rd with 2 out, Andrew Arzberger powered a double to deep center field and Hopewell led 4-2. Next up, Vukovcan hit a sharp ground ball that skipped over the first baseman’s glove and allowed Arzberger to score. Hopewell now led 5-2.

Freedom wasn’t going to quit, and they responded with 2 more runs in the 3rd and looked as though they were going to score more.

The Bulldogs had the bases loaded and 1 out but Vukovcan fielded a sharp comebacker to the mound and threw home to catcher Owen Ackerman, to just nab the runner on a force out. Then with 2 outs, same thing, Vukovcan fielded another ground ball but this time threw over to first base to end the inning.

Hopewell went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th, but Freedom didn’t when they came to bat as they tied the score and had the potential for more.

Vukovcan struck out two of the first three hitters of the inning but after a 2-out RBI single and a hit batter, that was it for Vukovcan and Jackson Yurcina came in to try and end the inning.

Thanks to our sponsors!

Yurcina did exactly that as he got Bundy to ground out to Hoth at 3rd base. The game entered the 5th inning tied at 5.

Hopewell had the top of the order coming up which in this game meant runs. Lindsey once again reached base, this time with a sharp single to center field. Lindsey then got home on his own as he stole second base, advanced to 3rd as the throw from the catcher went into center field. And then scored as the center fielder’s throw hopped by the 3rd baseman.

Next up, Davis singled to left, which was his 3rd hit of the game. Davis then stole second and scored on another hit by Armstrong. Hopewell led 7-5. With 1 out, Armstrong was at 3rd and Arzberger was able to put the ball in play, grounding out to second, but it scored Boo and Hopewell led 8-5.

The bottom of the 5th was big as Yurcina was able to have a quick 1-2-3 right after his team re-took the lead.

The first batter, Brown, flew out to Lindsey in left field. Then after Yurcina struck out Leasha, he got Tusick to pop up to Davis at shortstop.

Hopewell put the game away in the 6th inning with 5 more runs.

Ryan Gaguzis was hit to start the inning. Then, Coach Yurcina brought in David Villanueva as a pinch-hitter and he delivered big-time with a hard double to the right-center gap, which scored Gaguzis. Then with 2 on and 1 out, Armstrong came up with another hit, this one scored Jaxson Covalt and Davis. Hopewell led 12-5. On the season, Armstrong is batting an incredible .759. Boo would then score on an infield single by Hoth and Hopewell led 13-5.

Freedom reduced the deficit to 13-8 in the bottom of the 6th. Two more nice catches in the outfield by Hopewell, one by right fielder Reed Budavich and the other by Lindsey in left.

In the final frame, it was more Villanueva as this time he hit a deep triple to center field, which scored Gaguzis, who reached on a single. The last two runs scored on RBI singles by Davis and an RBI double by Armstrong.

Yurcina stayed out for the final inning and got Freedom 1-2-3.

Brown grounded out to Vukovcan at 2nd base, Leasha struck out and as just as the last two games have ended, this one too ended with a Lindsey coming up with a nice catch.

After playing five straight days, Hopewell has the day off with Game 2 scheduled for Monday at home (Racoon Twp Field). First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM. With a championship on the line, it would be great if a big crowd would show up to cheer them on.