ELYRIA, Ohio -- The Pirates were sunk by a five-run Panther second inning, as Rocky River fell to Elyria Catholic 6-3 Monday.

The Panthers batted around, banging out five hits in the second. They were otherwise held to just one run the rest of the game. Julian Patti was Rocky River's lone pitcher in the game. Patti twice set EC down in order and he worked out of more than a couple jams to keep River close.

The Pirates (5-10) halved a 6-0 Panther lead in the top of the sixth when they turned three hits, a sacrfice fly, and a defensive error into three runs. Left fielder Thomas Rossi singled in that rally and went 2-for-3 for the game.

Rocky River was out-hit 10-5. The Pirate offense was hamstrung by not having a leadoff batter reach base until the fifth inning and by an 0-for-7 performance with runners in scoring position.


CANNON FIRE ...

HIT MAN: Monday's game marked Thomas Rossi's seventh multi-hit game of the season. Rossi -- who is 5-for-12 over his last three games -- is batting .463 (19-of-41) for the season. He's registered four doubles, two triples, and one home run, and has knocked in 14 runs.

TWO-TIMERS: Jake Florentine and Anthony Ferchill had doubles in Monday's loss. Ferchill's two-bagger marked his team-leading fifth of the season.


by Skip Snow

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