AMHERST, Ohio (March 29, 2025) -- The Pirates opened 2025 play with a hard-fought contest against a talented foe, as the Rocky River lost __ at Amherst Steele Saturday. The River offense was held hitless until the seventh inning, and the Comets -- preseason No. 11 in Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association DII poll -- got production up and down their lineup in earning the three-run victory.
It was a pair of three-run homers looming large in the line score of what was otherwise more of a pitcher's duel. The home nine took a 3-0 first-inning lead on a two-on round-tripper by Jacob Schliesser. Pitcher Harrison Schneider would handcuff the Pirates and have his Comets in front the rest of the way.
Schneider set down the first 11 River batters he faced in the wind-blown lid-lifter. He delivered the game to the seventh inning with Steele in front 6-0. The Comets had tacked on a solo marker in the third and two runs in the sixth,
Rocky River starter Rees Heigle -- a Prep Baseball first-team all-Ohio performer last spring -- exited after 3 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. He and Michael Perry split the Comet damage in the sixth. Perry pitched two frames; Kyle Rush got the final out of the Steele seventh.
Rocky River (0-1) was held off the board until it got a three-run homer of its own in the final stanza. In that Buccaneer seventh, a single, two walks, and a double-play turned into a two-on, two-out opportunity for sophomore Bryant Hurt.
Hurt's first career hit was a belt to left, and it brought the Pirates within three. Fellow sophomore Jackson Powe then got aboard with a single, but the River rally came to an end on a ground-out.
Rocky River -- the OHSBCA preseason No. 7 in DII -- was outhit 9-3 for the game. Senior shortstop Josh Mommers, a 2024 first-team all-Great Lakes Conference performer, was the lone Pirate to reach base more-than-once. He clocked a single and a walk in three plate appearances.
CANNON FIRE ...
MEET THE PIRATES: The Sons of Blackbeard return seven starters and 16 lettermen from a 2024 team that 23-6 and made a district title game for the first time in 25 years. River won a conference title (GLC) and finished as DIII Northeast 5 District runner-up. The 2025 roster includes 10 seniors (Landon Biscardi, Joe Brant, Matt Gutia, Rees Heigle, Elliot Hibshman, Griffin Hill, Josh Mommers, Brady Patsouras, Michael Perry, Henry Tovissi) and is captained by Gutia, Hill. Mommers, and Perry.
ON DECK: Rocky River's next game is slated for Monday. The Pirates will host Lorain in the 4:30 p.m. Rocky River Field opener. The Double-R went 14-1 across 15 games at the Bus Yard last season.
by Skip Snow
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