Ringgold’s offense in high gear, roars past Hopewell
McMURRAY – Don Roberts knew it was coming but didn’t know when.
Ringgold High School’s baseball team sloshed its way through the last two weeks, struggling to push runs across the plate.
Roberts, the Rams’ head coach, knew that when it finally happened, the offensive outburst would be something to see.
And it was.
The Rams scored five times in each of the last two innings, pounded out 11 hits and rolled to a 12-0, five inning victory over Hopewell in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class 4A baseball playoffs at Peterswood Park on a sunny Thursday.
The victory moved the second-seeded Rams, now 18-4, into the semifinals against Meadville Monday at a site and time to be determined. The Ringgold program has never advanced this far into the state playoffs.
This win was a marked improvement over the previous two games, a 4-3 nail-biter over St. Mary’s in the PIAA first round and a 4-1 loss to South Fayette in the WPIAL championship game.
Roberts scouted Hopewell (15-11), the second seed, four days ago during the Vikings’ 5-0 upset of top-seeded Grove City in a game played at Slippery Rock University.
“We faced two pretty good pitchers. They held us down so I had a feeling we were about to explode,” said Roberts, who took over the program three games into last season and has led the Rams to two consecutive postseason appearances.
“We stuck with our approach we practiced all week and executed well.”
Especially Bob Boyer.
The hulking catcher who wears No. 13 sent a rocket over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run that made it an even dozen number of runs for the Rams and gave him five RBI in the game.
It was his third home run of the season. A large contingent of his teammates waited for him at home plate to give him the traditional celebration as the stunned Vikings looked on.
“My goal was putting the bat on the ball,” said Boyer. “I wasn’t thinking about a home run. I just wanted to put the ball in play. That feeling is surreal when you round third base and see all your teammates waiting there for you.”
While Boyer’s home run got the most admiration, the two runs scored by the Rams in the bottom of the first inning were arguably the most important. It gave the Rams an early cushion and seemed to have a calming effect in the dugout.
Designated hitter Chas Angotti started it with a four-pitch walk and shortstop Koby Bubash singled him to second. Third baseman Ryan Varley moved them up a base with a deep fly out to right field. Angotti came home on a single by centerfielder Bo Haines and a sacrifice fly by right fielder Luke Winterbottom scored Bubash.
Ringgold made it 7-0 after scoring five runs in the third inning after two outs. Boyer drove in two runs with a single up the middle. The Rams sent nine to the plate in the inning and did sent nine more in the bottom of the fourth.
“Hats off to Ringgold. That’s a heck of a performance they had offensively,” said Hopewell head coach Mike Shuleski. “Offensively, we didn’t do a bad job. We squared some balls up but never got into a rhythm. They just beat us today.”
Meanwhile, Ringgold starter Josh Peters did not allow a hit until the third inning and pitched five strong shutout innings, allowing just the one hit, walking one and striking out three.
“Our No. 2 (Chase Angotti) was supposed to pitch but his arm was a little sore,” said Roberts. “We decided to go with Josh. He’s as good as our No. 1 and 2. He was pounding the strike zone. The key for him was getting ahead of every hitter.”
Jake Mayer had two RBI and Winterbottom had an unusual batting line, 0-for-0, 2 runs and an RBI.