Hopewell Pony League Baseball
Tremendous Pony League Playoff Opener as Hopewell Beats Central Valley/McElhaney, 2-1
RACOON TOWNSHIP- When Hopewell and Central Valley play in a baseball game, more times than not, it’s going to be a tremendous game and that’s exactly what we got in the opening game of the 376 Western PA Pony League playoffs.
Hopewell entered as the No. 7 seed and hosted a very talented Central Valley game.
This game wasn’t going to have very many runs in it because both teams were going with their top of the rotation games.
Coach Jamie Yurcina went with his ace lefty James Armstrong while Central Valley started with Logan Shenot. As expected, we saw a pitching duel early on with very chances to score runs.
Credit to Hopewell that when Central Valley did threaten to score, the Vikings tightened things up defensively and made a play.
Case in point in the first inning. After Armstrong struck out the first two hitters of the game, Central Valley’s next two batters reached but Hopewell got out of the jam as Collin Davis fielded a ground ball to shortstop.
In the CV top of the second, Daniel Duncan hit a double to the gap in left field and tried to stretch it to a triple. However, Hopewell executed a perfect relay throw as left fielder Ryan Gaguzis threw to Davis who fired a strike to 3rd baseman Camden Hoth, who got the runner.
In the CV third, with a runner at first and 2 out, Armstrong struck out cleanup hitter and CV’s most dangerous hitter Tim McElhaney swinging. Armstrong was doing a really good job of keeping the dangerous hitters at the top of CV’s batting order off-balance by mixing in his fastball, curveball and slider.
Hopewell scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jayvion Lindsey led off with an opposite field single to right field. After stealing second base, Lindsey advanced to third on a ground ball by Davis. Next up, Armstrong laced a deep double to center field to score Lindsey. Hopewell led 1-0.
Next hitter, Camden Hoth smoked a ball to left field that the fielder couldn’t handle and that put runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Luke Vukovcan walked to load the bases for Jackson Yurcina. On the first pitch, Yurcina hit a ground ball to first base, which scored Armstrong and Hopewell now led 2-0. That would turn out to be the game-winning RBI.
From there, it was all Armstrong and his defense.
In the CV fifth inning. Lyons grounded out to Davis at short. Armstrong would then walk two of the next three hitters to put 2 on with 2 out but Boo got out of the jam with a 3 pitch strike out.
CV got on the scoreboard in the top of the 6th as McElhaney hit a triple to the deepest part of the field. The ball was smoked and hit off the center field fence. McElhaney would then score on a ground ball error and Hopewell’s lead was cut to 2-1.
However, Hopewell settled down and the next three CV batters were set down as one grounded to first baseman Andrew Arzberger at first. The next CV hitter flew out to Gaguzis in left field and Armstrong ended the inning with a strikeout.
Central Valley’s pitcher did a really nice job tonight as Shenot went 3.1 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk and 1 strike out. Kaden Mumaw followed him and went 2.2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs and 3 strikeouts.
Hopewell went to the 7th inning needing three out to advance and Yurcina stuck with Armstrong, who was getting dangerously close to the pitch limit.
Armstrong needed a quick inning and that’s what he got as he struck out the first hitter, got a ground ball to Hoth at 3rd base for the 2nd out and ended the game with a strike out.
Hopewell now advances to take on No. 2 seed Blackhawk Tuesday night.
