ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 11, 2023) -- Rocky River's busy mid-May slate continued Wednesday and Thursday, as the Pirates split a pair of non-conference games. River clocked an 11-1 triumph over Columbia Wednesday; on Thursday the Pirates dropped a 6-3 contest at Gilmour.
The Maroon & White banged out 17 hits against just two in their Wednesday home win over the Raiders. River scored in every inning of the five-frame, run-rule affair. Crooked numbers in the second (three runs) and third (five) innings vaulted the Pirates to the eventual rout.
Thomas Rossi (2-1/3 shutout innings, one walk, three strikeouts) was the lead man of a three-headed mound presence for the Pirates. At the plate, Rossi helped the River cause with a 2-for-3 performance that included a double. Anthony Ferchill (2-for-3, stolen base), Matt Gutia (2-for-2, two runs batted in), Josh Mommers (2-for-3, 2 RBI), and Charlie Russell (3-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI) also had multiple hits for the Sons of Blackbeard.
On Thursday, the Gilmour Lancers plated two runs in each of the first three innings and would cruise the rest of the way. Griffin Hill started for Rocky River (7-15) and was tagged for all six of those runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Two costly Pirate errors caused four of those six runs to be booked as unearned. Herny Tovissi closed out the game with two near-perfect innings; he hit a batter and fanned three.
Rocky River outhit Gilmour 7-5. Mommers reached four times on a single, a double, and two walks.
CANNON FIRE ...
ON DECK: Rocky River is slated to travel to Bay Village for a Friday Great Lakes Conference West Division battle against the Bay Rockets (4:30 p.m.). The Pirates are then ticketed for a Saturday home game against Holy Name (11 a.m.). ... River has been tabbed as the No. 23 seed for upcoming district tournament play. The Buccaneers will travel to No. 13 Firelands for a 5 p.m. DII North Ridville District game Monday.
MOTHER OF ALL HIT STREAKS: With his two-hit games Wednesday and Thursday, Josh Mommers has now hit safely in eight straight games. Over that stretch, Mommers had ledgered three doubles, a triple, and eight walks. Through Thursday, he is batting .327 (17-of-52) with a .527 on-base percentage.
by Skip Snow
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