ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (April 26, 2024) -- The visitors were the Cards; but it was Pirate pitching doing the dealing. Juniors Rees Heigle and Griffin Hill combined on a no-hitter, and Rocky River won 4-0 in a Friday home game against the Brookside.

Heigle, who pitched a seven-frame no-hitter against North Olmsted April 10, walked two batters and struck out five in delivering River to a 2-0 lead through four innings. Hill, who had allowed just one hit over 4-1/3 innings over two previous outing this spring, closed out the contest with hitless stanzas in the fifth, sixth, and seventh. He ledgered one walk against two strikeouts.

The combined no-hitter marked Rocky River's third no-no this season (Michael Perry vs. Normandy April 18), and it helped keep the Baseball Buccaneers (15-0) undefeated in this remarkable 2024 campaign.

On offense, the River Raiders plated two runs in the second inning and then solo runs in the fifth and sixth. The Pirates managed the only seven hits of the non-conference battle at the Bus Yard. River also drew six walks and a hit-by-pitch but was somewhat undone by a 2-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position.

Jack Petrus went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in. Dan Capka went 1-for-2 and had two walks.

If Heigle's April 10 masterpiece was a full candy bar, tab Friday's four frames as being Rees' Pieces. But the end result was just as sweet, and the Pirate port-sider has now allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned) in his last 18 innings.

The Rocky River staff ERA for the season now stands at a minuscule 1.13. 

On Saturday, the Sons of Blackbeard will look to continue their spring-of-dreams win streak. Rocky River is slated to play a noon game at Elyria.

by Skip Snow

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