ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (March 30, 2023) -- Rocky River fell to Normandy 13-1 on Thursday.

The Pirates (0-1) were undone by two big innings in the (sort-of) season opener at Pirate Field. The Invaders pushed across seven runs in the top of the third inning and six more in the fifth. A couple River errors fed four unearned runs into those rallies. Overall, Normandy clubbed a home run (Savannah Hardy) and a pair of doubles as part of a nine-hit afternoon.

River scored its lone run in the bottom of the third when junior center fielder Sienna DeMooy reached on a leadoff single and was plated one out later on an RBI single by freshman catcher Maggie Heigle.

The Buccaneers were otherwise held in check by Normandy's Taylor Leggins, who went the full five, fanning 10 batters along the way. Leggins scattered five base hits; Heigle logged two of those in a 2-for-2-with-a-walk debut.

Senior Colleen Meese manned the circle for the Pirates. Meese went five innings, walking seven and striking out six.

The game came a day after Rocky River and Clearview had a game suspended in the sixth inning. That game -- with River leading 15-9 -- will be finished at a later date if possible. So, Thursday's affair at the Corner of Northview  & 90 is recorded as the Pirates' official 2023 season opener.


by Skip Snow

# # # River # # #