OBERLIN, Ohio (May 15, 2023) -- Walk-single-walk. BB-1B-BB. Those were the scorebook entries at the front end of a titanic four-run River fifth inning that keyed a Pirate win over Firelands in Monday district tournament action.
The four runs helped a 23rd-seeded Rocky River nine break free from a pitchers' duel with their hosts, the No. 13 Firelands Falcons. The Sons of Blackbeard would go on to win 7-3 and advance in the DII North Ridgeville District brackets of the 2023 Buckeye State playoffs. Senior right-hander Thomas Rossi gave River a bulldog effort on the mound, going six innings and scattering three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. The Buccaneer moundsman also assisted his own cause by helping the Pirates book that BB-1B-BB triumvirate as runs crossing the plate in the big fifth.
The walk-single-walk came from the bottom of the order, with No. 8 batter Rees Heigle working a walk, No. 9 hitter Elliot Hibshman singling, and lead-off man Josh Mommers drawing a walk. The Pirates had a 2-1 lead when those three were on the bases, poised to run River into a bigger advantage.
An Anthony Ferchill ground ball brought one run in. Rossi was next, and he bashed a double to left -- his sixth in Rocky River's last five games -- to plate Hibshman and Mommers. Two batters later, Rossi came around to score on an RBI single by Michael Perry. Four runs in, even after the Pirates had left the bases juiced. Rossi to the bump with a 6-1 edge.
An out on the bases helped Rossi and the Pirate defense get out of the fifth with that same lead intact. The host Falcons fought back in the bottom of the sixth, turning four singles into a run off the tiring River hurler. Rossi did, however, strike out the final man he faced; he punched out eight for the game.
Rossi's relief came in the form of Hudson Wissman, but not until after the Double-R had tacked on an insurance run (Nathan Wing with a leadoff single, Matt Gutia with an RBI single) in the top of the seventh. But no insurance claim would need to be filed. Wissman worked his way through a scoreless seventh, allowing a hit and a walk but whiffing three Falcons along the way.
Each side finished with seven hits in the game; River had two doubles (Rossi, Ferchill) and Firelands had one. Rossi and Wissman held the Falcons to a 2-for-9 mark with runners in scoring position.
As for the Pirates, they themselves were Monday's biggest clutch hit. They had an opportunity. And the Sons of Blackbeard came through.
From the BB-1B-BB in the book ... to the last K in that book ... to the next line in the bracket, a line that has the Pirates coming home ... sort of.
Rocky River will travel to Lutheran West to battle the No. 5 Longhorns Wednesday at 5 p.m.
by Skip Snow
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