NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (April 9, 2024) -- The undefeated 2024 Rocky River Pirates are still exactly that. No required edit to that title after a 9-1 dismantling of the North Olmsted Eagles in the team's Great Lakes Conference West Division opener Tuesday.
Rocky River (6-1, 1-0 GLC West) got strong pitching and two base hits from senior Thomas Rossi, and the Pirates pulled off a late charge in a contest that would have otherwise been accurately termed a pitcher's duel on a a balmy, breezy day at North Olmsted High School. Rossi cooled off the Eagles with a steady stream of strikeouts in delivering River to the top of the sixth with a 3-1 lead.
In that sixth frame, the Sons of Blackbeard then took firm control of the game when hits by Griffin Hill, Jeff Maslar, Rees Heigle, Anthony Ferchill, and Rossi culminated in the Pirates plating four runs. River would reel in two more runs -- both manufactured on outs with two sacrifice flies (Landon Biscardi and Josh Mommers) -- in the seventh. Mommers had earlier homered in the game; he finished the day 1-for-4 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
Rossi and Henry Tovissi combined on the last six outs of the game. River pitching retired the Eagles' last 11 batters of the game. Rossi allowed one run on three hits and one base on balls in 6 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 10.
Ferchill (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1R, 1 SB) and Hill (2-for-2, walk, 1R) joined Rossi in the game's two-hit club. Rocky River outhit North Olmsted 13-3 in an errorless game.
The Pirates are slated to host the Eagles Wednesday at Rocky River Field.
CANNON FIRE ...
DOUBLE-R RANKED & READY: The Pirates were tabbed No. 10 in the April 8 Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association DII poll. They were also ranked sixth in the April 9 Prep Baseball Report DII Power Rankings.
SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREAK: Senior second baseman Anthony Ferchill has five hits over River's last two games and has hit safely in all six games this season. Ferchill is batting .429 (9-for-21).
by Skip Snow
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