MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (April 2, 2024) -- Senior right-hander Thomas Rossi tossed a complete-game one-hitter, and the Pirates negotiated their way around five errors as Rocky River defeated Salem (Va.) in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tuesday morning.

River got second-inning RBI hits from Griffin Hill, Josh Mommers, and Anthony Ferchill as part of a five-run second-inning. That would be plenty of cushion for Rossi, who walked one and yielded one hit and one earned run while working around the defensive miscues. The Double-R defense did come through with a few outs recorded on the basepaths, and that helped keep Rossi's pitch count in the green. He needed juts 79 pitches to navigate the seven innings of Rocky River's first game of the South Atlantic Bank Invitational; 55 of those pitches were strikes. The Buccaneer hurler whiffed seven in the game.

The Pirates scored all of their runs in the second and fourth innings. A Jeff Maslar double, Henry Tovissi single, and two walks were the fuel on the three-run fire in the River fourth. The Pirates had three doubles in the game (Maslar, Ferchill, Mommers) and out-hit the Sundevils 7-1.

Designated hitter Matt Gutia went 2-for-2 Tuesday and is 4-for-7 on the young season. Rossi, who last year ledgered a 3.68 ERA in a team-high 38 innings, has allowed just two earned runs through his first 11-1/3 innings pitched this season.

The South Atlantic Bank Invitational dates back to 1981 and is one of the largest high-school baseball tournaments in the nation. Rocky River (3-0) is scheduled to play games in and around Myrtle Beach Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Raiders are slated to play Shady Spring (W. Va.) Wednesday at 9 a.m.

by Skip Snow

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