LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Rocky River closed out its 2022 season with a Great Lakes Conference crossover game Saturday. It was also a cross-over-the-river game, with the Pirates taking on the Lakewood Rangers. The host Rangers prevailed 7-4.

The Pirates (9-13) were down 4-0 when the top of the River order came to the plate in the top of the fourth inning. Seniors Kate Tlapa, Katie Mommers, and Kelsey Murphy went single-double-triple to ger the Buccaneers on the board with two. But the rally fizzled with the Pirates going hitless in three attempts to get a run closer.

Lakewood, which had beaten Rocky River 9-0 earlier this season (April 14), tacked on a solo insurance run in the fifth and then two more in the sixth, and the Rangers went into the final frame leading 7-2. A two-out rally in the seventh plated River's last two runs.

For the game, the meat of the Ranger order was tough on Pirate hurler Katie Mommers, who went the distance. Lakewood's 3-, 4-, and 5-hitters went a combined 5-for-12 with two doubles, a home run, and four runs batted in. Jordan Rossen went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs. Rossen also started for Lakewood, going four innings and allowing two runs.

Tlapa and Murphy both logged two-hit, two-RBI games for the Pirates.

With a 2-for-3 performance on the season's final day, slugger Kelsey Murphy closed out her Rocky River career with a .525 batting average (114-of-217). That lofty average eclipses the program's previous record (Genni Nardi, .472, 1979-1982) which had been on the books for 40 years. Murphy also leaves the Pirates as their all-time home run leader, with 20 round-trippers. Even with a lost 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy also approached the program's career bests for hits (122) and RBIs (125), both held by Marissa Smiley (2016-19). Murphy finished with 113 career RBIs.

Katie Mommers also closed out her career well-placed across the board in most offensive categories. Mommers clocked a .451 career average (92-of-204), with 25 doubles, five triples, five home runs, and 87 RBIs. She notched a career on-base percentage of .545.

"I'm really proud of the way all these girls battled all spring," said coach Jeff Hammond. "We say goodbye to a whole class of special seniors in Kelsey, Katie, Kate [Tlapa], Emily [Satayathum], Lindsay [Hartman], and Maggie [Hill]. They will certainly be missed."



by Skip Snow

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