AVON, Ohio (March 25, 2023) -- Albeit in home-away-from-home fashion and in a game that was nearly blown straight into next year's schedule, Rocky River fell to Avon 17-8 Saturday.
The Pirates -- playing as the home team at Mercy Health Stadium, the home of the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League -- were able to jump out to a 5-1 lead over the first two innings of play. River pitching -- junior Thomas Rossi at the outset and then three relievers chopping up innings four, five and six -- had its hands full battling the elements and then a slew of errors in trying to nurse that lead along. Multiple defensive miscues led to a combined nine Eagles' runs over the third and fourth innings.
River got within three (11-8) when a Hudson Wissman hit a two-run inside-the-park home run and an RBI single by Henry Tovissi pushed across a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Avon (1-0) would lead the rest of the way. For good measure, the Eagles hung an error-induced six on the board in the top of the final inning, which was the sixth in a game called on account of darkness.
For the game, the Eagles outhit the Pirates 13-7. The River Nine was tagged with seven errors in the chilled, windy season opener for both teams.
The Buccaneer offense was led by Rossi (2-for-2 with a double and a walk), Wissman (2-for-3 with five RBIs), and Josh Mommers (three walks, two runs scored). On the mound, Rossi went three innings, allowing 10 runs (all unearned) on six hits. The southpaw fanned five without issuing a walk. Joe Brant (two innings, one run) was the primary hurler used in relief of Rossi, a second-team all-Great Lakes Conference performer a year ago.
Cole Ropelewski and Chris Egger split mound duties for the Eagles. Ian Cain was a standout bat for Avon, even on a day when six Eagles logged multiple hits. Cain went 2-for-4 with a double and four runs batted in.
Saturday's game marked the first meeting between Rocky River and Avon since 2015. The Eagles' 17 runs marked the most in a series game since April 15, 2010 (20-10 Avon victory).
The Pirates (0-1) are slated to get back on the diamond with a Monday home game against GLC foe North Olmsted.
CANNON FIRE ...
PIAZZA PARTY: Saturday's game marked the first under new Double-R coach Ed Piazza, who was previously a long-time coach for Elyria. Piazza enters this season with 196 career wins.
RETURNING RAIDERS: The 2023 Pirate squad returns seven starters from a 2022 team that went 6-14.
by Skip Snow
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