ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 13, 2023) -- Rocky River registered a dominant 8-2 win over Holy Name Saturday.
The Pirates (9-15) led wire-to-wire, getting three runs in the home half of the first and lock-down pitching that would make even that much offense hold up the rest of the way. Sophomore Michael Perry started and went five innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on a hit and two walks. Perry struck out three in lowering his season ERA to a tidy 0.54. Senior right fielder Thomas Rossi whacked two doubles and collected four runs batted in. River outhit Holy Name 7-2.
Josh Mommers singled to open the Raider first, setting the table for Rossi, who would double in two runs two batters later. Mommers' single extended his hit streak, now at 10 games. He went 1-for-1 with two walks and to runs scored. Rossi came around to score River's third run of the first when Perry helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Three walks and a single made for a station-to-station run in the River second. The Sons of Blackbeard went on to get three more runs in the fourth -- a frame keyed by Rossi's second double -- and in the sixth -- on a Luke Petrus RBI single. For the game, the Double-R went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Perry tossed 1-2-3 innings in the first and third. He wriggled out of a minor jam in the second, In the fourth, he pulled of a solid Houdini escape, holding the Green Wave to two unearned runs despite facing eight batters in the inning. It was as if Perry went through most of a Wave but got just a little bit wet.
Perry was lifted two innings later. Henry Tovissi (one inning) and Joe Brant (one inning) finished off River's fine mound work. Over the team's last four games -- with the Pirates going 3-1 -- Rocky River pitching has logged a 0.84 ERA.
Thomas Rossi's two doubles marked his 10th and 11th extra-base hits of the spring. The senior slugger owns a team-best 1.079 OPS, and he has swiped 10 bases.
Rocky River -- the No. 23 seed in the DII North Ridgeville District brackets -- will travel to No. 13 Firelands for a 5 p.m. Buckeye State postseason game Monday.
by Skip Snow
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