Hopewell Pony League Baseball
Hopewell Pony League Rally to Tie Beaver Falls, 4-4
RACCOON TWP- After starting the Pony League season 0-2, the Hopewell Vikings have come on strong over the last two weeks winning their last two games.
Tonight, Coach Hoffman’s team returned home to take on Beaver Falls.
Hopewell continues their solid play by battling Beaver Falls to a 4-4 tie.
Trailing by two runs entering the 5th inning, Hopewell got a clutch 2-out single by Tyler Hoffman to cut the deficit to one. Then in the final inning, Luke Vukovcan’s single brought in trying run.
In terms of hitting, Andrew Arzberger led the way with 3 hits, while Vukovcan drove in 2 runs. Other RBI tonight was from
Despite only collecting 6 hits, the Hopewell batters had a lot of really good at-bats. Unfortunately, the balls were either hit right to the Beaver Falls player or they made an above play to record the out.
Some examples of that:
-Vukovcan clubbed a ball in the first inning to deep right field but the right fielder made a play, if not it’s at least a triple.
-With the winning run at 3rd in the final inning, Hoffman laced a ball back up the middle but the second baseman showed range, fueled it and threw him out at first.
-Anthony Ventresca hit what looked to be a gapper between left and center but the Beaver Falls left fielder made a great diving catch.
-Christian Fisher hit a deep shot to center but unfortunately it was right at the center fielder.
While that can be frustrating, the other team is out there to make defensive plays and Beaver Falls did that tonight. However, if Hopewell continues to hit like that, those outs will turn into hits.
Pitching tonight was solid led by Arzberger and Vukovcan as the two combined to pitch 4 innings, allowing 0 hits and striking out 11.
Arzberger: 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 5 K’s (36 pitches/23 strikes)
Vukovcan: 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 6 K’s (25 pitches/18 strikes).
Hopewell is now 2-2-1 and is in action on Thursday at home against Blackhawk.