Hogan’s the hero in HoVal win

Hopewell Valley baseball

By: Jim Green
   Prior to the state tournament, Hopewell Valley Central High School baseball coach Ken Harrison called on his seniors to play each game like it could be their last.
   They did not disappoint.
   Right-hander Dan Hogan hurled a complete-game six-hitter, and second basemen Mark Yuhas knocked in three runs with two big two-out hits, setting the tone as the sixth-seeded Bulldogs knocked off 11th-seeded Colts Neck 7-3 Monday in the first round of the Central Jersey Group III sectional tournament at CHS. Hopewell moves on to the quarterfinals, where it will visit third-seeded Ocean Township on Friday. Ocean Township beat West Windsor-Plainsboro North 7-6 in the first round.
   "I’ve been playing with these senior guys my whole life," said Hogan, who surrendered just two earned runs in his seven innings of work, improving to 5-0. "I definitely wanted to win for these guys. We’ve all grown up together."
   The first-round victory represents another great accomplishment by this Hopewell squad, which is 14-7 overall and captured the Colonial Valley Conference Patriot Division title.
   "I think we had a successful season, even if we didn’t come out on top today," Harrison said. "I just wanted the kids to represent themselves well. Coming out on top is a bonus. Now that we got a win, we’re not satisfied. We want to win two or three."
   The Bulldogs played like champions all game Monday. After Colts Neck took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Hopewell came right back, scoring twice to take the lead — the big hit being a line-drive RBI single to center by senior catcher Angelo Pagano.
   Colts Neck pulled back in front with two in the top of the third, but once again, the Bulldogs came right back. Senior third baseman Chris Zsenak reached on a dropped third strike, and junior first baseman Ralph Rich smacked a double. Pagano then reached on a high third strike that sailed to the backstop, scoring Zsenak. Yuhas followed with the first of his two hits, lining a single to center and plating two runs.
   "Yuhas stepped up big," Hogan said. "He got us going today."
   The Bulldogs went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, but in the fifth, they put the game away with a two-run rally. With one out, Rich walked and Pagano reached on an error. After a flyout by junior right fielder R.J. Ofner, Yuhas lined another single to center, plating Rich. Junior designated hitter Frank Lovero came up next and singled home Pagano, producing the final margin of victory.
   "The seniors did step up today," Hogan said. "We can hit. When I was down, they came out and scored some runs for me. I knew they were going to hit. I have confidence in them."
   And the entire Bulldog team has confidence when Hogan is on the mound.
   "He competes," Harrison said. "He puts the ball in play and throws strikes. He pitches like a senior should."
   Harrison also was pleased to see Yuhas rebound from a recent slump that resulted in him being moved from the No. 2 spot in the lineup to seventh.
   "He stepped up big," Harrison said. "A good team needs to get those hits. He’s been in that position many times before, and he came through for us."
   Now that the Bulldogs have a first-round win under their belts, anything seems possible.
   "This was really a boost of confidence for us," Hogan said. "We really needed to step it up big time, and we did."
• NOTES: The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Bulldogs. On Saturday, Hopewell lost to Lawrence 9-5. Junior shortstop Matt Lanouette was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Zsenak and Rich each knocked in a run.
   On May 18, the Bulldogs managed just three singles in a 7-1 loss to Steinert. Lovero drove in Hopewell’s only run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.