ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (April 16, 2024) -- As three-time MVP, 10-time World Series champion, and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, "Its deja vu all over again." On Thursday against Normandy, the Double-R was at it again, winning in a similar fashion to many of the 10 straight triumphs that had come before. A clutch hit. A win in the last at-bat. A gem of a mound performance, and, in this case, another no-hitter.
That's how it all came together at Rocky River Field -- once again -- on Thursday, as the Baseball Buccaneers defeated the Normandy Invaders 2-1. Junior right-hander Michael Perry followed in fellow hurler Rees Heigle's mound step and tossed a no-hitter. One Normandy run did score, however, when the Invaders leveraged a hit batsman and two Pirate errors in the top of the sixth. Nick Hinkle came around to score, knotting the game at 1-1. (River's lone run to that point had come in the bottom of the first when shortstop Josh Mommers singled, stole second, and came around to score on a single by right fielder Thomas Rossi.)
In between those two fencepost runs -- the River marker in the first and the Normandy answer in the sixth, Perry filed three 1-2-3 innings and got out of a jam in the fifth. He also worked around two walks in the first. He closed out his no-no, preserving a 1-1 tie score, with a 1-2-3 seventh, getting a ground-out and two line-outs. For the game, Perry walked two and fanned five in lowering his season ERA to a microscopic 0.96.
Perry's performance got the Pirates (11-0) to the bottom of the seventh looking to add some confirmation status to River's second no-hitter of the season (Heigle-April 10 vs. North Olmsted). Due up for the Double-R were Henry Tovissi, Mommers, and Anthony Ferchill, the 9-1-2 part of the order.
After Tovissi struck out, Mommers was just struck: he took first base after being plunked for a third time this season. The speedy leadoff batter swiped second to become the Pirates' seventh runner to reach scoring position in the game (RR had gone just 2-of-11 with runners in scoring position to that point).
That brought Ferchill, who had already twice singled in three at-bats, to the plate. On an 0-1 pitch, the righty-swinging second sacker rocketed the baseball to center field on a line. It was hauled in on a bounce by center fielder Gabe Montgomery, who hustled to throw to the plate in an effort to beat Mommers, who himself had been off like a rabbit when seeing the Ferchill drive would find turf.
Montgomery's throw was on the money and the snare was sprung, but the rabbit was just fast enough. Mommers barreled around third with a head of steam. He raced plate-ward and made it home safely, just beating the tag of catcher Cullin Rooney.
Mommers popped up after the slide and then suddenly was not the only Pirate around the plate, as the Rocky River dugout spilled onto the field in celebration.
In celebration of a game-winning hit. Again. And a one-run win. Again. And a no-hitter. Again. And a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win after a win.
Because this spring, that's Double-R baseball: a Resolute Rally. Then Rinse & Repeat.
CANNON FIRE ...
FROM THE BUCS SCORE: Rocky River had seven hits in the game, and six of those came from the top three spots in the batting order. Josh Mommers went 2-for-3, with a double and two stolen bases. Anthony Ferchill went 3-for-4. ... Mommers has reached base in all 11 games and now sports a .604 on-base percentage. He has stolen 10 bases and scored 18 runs. ... Ferchill has five multi-hit games since April 5 and is now batting .405 (17-of-42) on the season. He's batting .472 with runners in scoring position.
ON DECK: The Buccaneers are slated to play two non-conference games this weekend. River will be at Lorain Friday, then return to the Bus Yard for a Saturday home tilt against Avon. ... The Pirates are 5-0 at home, 3-0 on the road, and 3-0 in neutral-site games.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: On Tuesday, Prep Baseball named Rocky River the Ohio DII Team of the Week for the week ending April 14. In Monday's Prep Baseball Power 25, the Sons of Blackbeard were tabbed sixth among Buckeye State DII squads.
by Skip Snow
# # # Pirates # # #