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SPRING SPORTS

Varsity Baseball

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Hoppel.jpg

Head Coach
Ray Hoppel

rrh36@mcsdk12.org

Ray has been a coach, in some capacity, within the Mifflin County School District since 1997.  From 1997-2004, Ray was the first assistant/pitching coach for Lewistown Area High School, the pinnacle of which was helping the 2002 Panther squad to the Class AA state championship, the only scholastic state baseball title in the history of Mifflin County.  In August of 2004, Ray was named the head coach of the Panthers, which ended with the merging of Lewistown and Indian Valley High Schools into Mifflin County High School in 2011.  During the 15 seasons Ray was involved, the Panthers made the district playoffs all 15 seasons.  In addition to the state title in 2002, the Panthers also won district titles in 1999 and 2007, a Central Penn League title in 2008, and a MAC title in 2010.

 

After a 5 year scholastic layoff, Ray threw his hat back into the ring, this time on the softball side, where he served as a junior high coach during the spring and fall of 2016.  He then joined the varsity program in the spring of 2017 and stayed on in multiple forms, from volunteer to varsity assistant through 2022.  During those seasons, the Lady Huskies won 4 consecutive district titles from 2018-2022, with the 2020 season lost due to Covid-19.

 

In addition to the scholastic coaching positions, Ray has also been involved with the local Mifflin County youth programs since 2008.  Tee ball, coach pitch baseball, Cal Ripken, Junior Babe Ruth, Mifflin County Eagles Travel Baseball, and MC Little League softball have all been a part of Ray’s experience with local youth sports throughout the past 15 years. 

 

Ray definitely has a passion for teaching and coaching.  “There are very few things that prepare you for many of life’s challenges quite like sports.  The celebration of accomplishments, as well as dealing with adversity, are a part of the daily grind of athletics.  Being there with kids in their greatest of moments, and helping to guide them through the toughest of times is what makes teaching and coaching the most influential jobs on Earth!”

 

Ray and his wife, Yvonne, reside in Lewistown along with their 2 children, Gianna and Grady. 

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Assistant Coach:  Brett Leister

Volunteer Assistant Coaches: Dan Kochenderfer, David Quay, Sr., Bailey Hetrick

JV Baseball Coach:  Josh Nichols

JV Assistant Coach:  Matt Shoemaker

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