Weekend rain washes out HoVal’s early momentum

Hopewell Valley baseball

By: Mike Molaro
   The Hopewell Valley Central High School baseball squad was looking forward to opening its season with three games in four days. It would be the perfect opportunity for the Bulldogs to show their fans that they have what it takes to challenge Ewing in the Patriot Division of the Colonial Valley Conference.
   Mother Nature, however, had other plans, and last weekend’s torrential rains wiped out two of those games. HoVal was able to get in just one contest, last Friday’s 7-4 season-opening triumph over visiting Trenton.
   "It’s kind of a downer," first-year Bulldog coach Ken Harrison said of last Saturday’s postponement at Lenape and Monday’s postponement at Allentown. "We were coming off a win, and the guys wanted to keep it going. It’s been tough for us weather-wise. We had six scrimmages scheduled and only got two in.
   "We’ve been inside a long time. The guys are ready to play."
   Against the Trenton, the Bulldogs overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 before putting the game away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
   Senior third baseman Chris Zsenak went 2-for-3 with an RBI, senior catcher Angelo Pagano drove in a run, junior right fielder R.J. Ofner was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, and junior center fielder scored twice.
   Junior Tim Parker picked up the win with six solid innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out three Tornadoes and not surrendering a walk. Senior Mark Yuhas earned the save with a perfect top of the seventh.
   "It was a back-and-forth game," added Harrison, who received the game ball after picking up his first varsity win as a head coach. "We were playing for one run in the sixth. We put down a bunt and scored three runs after that. You play for one run, and sometimes good things happen.
   "The guys showed a lot of heart and character coming back. It’s exciting to be able to see what the guys are made of early in the season."
   With the early-season postponements meaning multiple-game weeks, the Bulldogs are anxious to get out of the gym and onto the field for live action.
   "Time will tell what we have," Harrison said. "The games will come. Our pitchers will have to step up and eat up innings. They have to throw strikes and go deep into the game.
   "The guys are ready to go. You can’t replicate live action in the gym. It’s tough for a coach to come up with new things to do inside."
• NOTES: Monday’s game at Allentown was rescheduled for yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. HoVal hosts Montgomery on Saturday and West Windsor-Plainsboro South next Monday.