Hoppe and Gunlock Lead Missoula Impact to 3-1 Victory over Marucci Texas Elite into Semifinals of V Tool Colorado Summer Invitational

DENVER - Caleb Hoppe threw a brilliant four-hitter and Dillon Gunlock drilled an RBI triple to lead the Missoula Impact Baseball Club to a victory over the Marucci Elite Texas club at Metropolitan State University-Denver, 3-1.

The gritty win propelled Missoula Impact into the semifinals of the elite tournament. Missoula finished pool play with a 3-0 record to earn the #3 seed out of the 18 teams in the 18U Division.

Hoppe used a lively fastball and excellent breaking stuff to stifle the potent Marucci offense. The 6’4” right-hander executed nasty breaking balls on full counts multiple times for strikeouts. He gave up an unearned run in the first inning and fought his way out of jams early in the game, then was dominant down the stretch, retiring 14 of 16 hitters during one stretch. Hoppe scattered four hits over 6 and 2/3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts to earn the V Tool Player of the Game.

Marek Hall, a Class of 2026 prospect, lined a single to left field in the sixth inning and scored a key insurance run, then was summoned with two outs in the seventh inning as the closer. Hall struck out Blaine St. Clair on a high fastball to earn the save and preserve Hoppe’s masterpiece.

“Marucci Texas Elite was the toughest team we have faced this year and the boys came out to play,” said Ryan Roche, Missoula Impact Manager. “Hoppe threw another gem while offensively we were able to string it together and take another win.”

The game started ominously for Missoula as leadoff hitter Zac Long chopped a turf double over Impact third baseman Matt Doty and scored on a throwing error on a steal of third base. Marucci put two more runners on via a walk and error, but Impact catcher Gunlock nailed Brodie Rangel on a first-and-third attempted steal to end the inning.

Cole Smith drew a one-out walk to start a rally for Missoula in the bottom of the first. Gunlock then crushed a fastball to deep right-center, past the outstretched arms of the right fielder, for an RBI triple. The blast proved to be the difference in the game as Gunlock then scored on an RBI groundout by Nick Karvandi.

Marucci threatened again in the second inning on singles by Pierce Keeney and Reid Larson, but Hoppe buckled the knees of St. Clair and fanned Ramos to kill the rally with two big strikeouts. Hoppe sailed through the next four innings, keeping the lead intact.

Clinging to the lead in the bottom of the fifth, Sawyer Tackett reached on a hit batsmen. Hall then drilled a line drive single to left field. Matt Doty dropped down a beautiful bunt single, but Tackett was nailed on the plate trying to score. With two outs, Hunter Johns was hit by a pitch and Madden Hensel worked a key RBI walk to add the vital insurance run.

Hoppe and Hall worked around two singles in the seventh inning to close out the win, punctuated by Hall’s game-ending strikeout.

Impact is back in action today with a semifinals matchup against the Catalyst Cardinals, an impressive club team from Denver with a roster almost entirely comprised of Class of 2024 players. First pitch is at 11:30 at All-Star Park in Lakewood, Colorado. Tune in on Game Changer!

The Marucci Elite Texas squad ranked highest in the standings after Impact and the other two undefeated teams - One6 18U and the Catayst Cardinals - so made it into the semifinals as the #4 seed. The Championship Game follows the semifinals today!