ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 6, 2024) -- The Pirates have had more than their share of true walk-off wins in this magical 2024 season. On Monday at the Bus Yard, Rocky River had a walk-off of a different sort. Three straight bases on balls, one scoring Elliot Hibshman who had opened the inning with a clutch lead-off single, where the fuel for a five-run fire in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Baseball Buccaneers went on to earn a 5-0 triumph over the rival Bay Rockets.
Senior right-hander Thomas Rossi dueled Bay's Johnny Veverka in a scoreless exchange until that sixth-inning outburst. A Pirate nine that was shut out twice over the weekend was held hitless by Veverka until Hibshman ripped a bouncer through the right side to get River started on its march around the bases. The five-run inning included a Rossi RBI walk against Bay reliever Will Schrock, a run-scoring bunt single by Michael Perry, a Henry Tovissi sacrifice bunt that plated a run, and a two-out, two-run single by Jeff Maslar.
Rossi then became his own best closer when he sealed the victory with a 1-2-3 top-of-the-seventh. The senior hurler retired the last eight Rockets he faced. He got four ground-outs and a strikeout over the final two innings. For the game, Rossi allowed three hits -- all singles -- and two walks. He struck out two. For the season, the two-way standout has held opposing batters to a .160 batting average while logging a 1.25 ERA.
Rocky River (18-4, 6-2 Great Lakes Conference West Division) and Bay (6-12, 2-4) will close out a two-game War-by-the-Shore series Tuesday at Bay High School.
CANNON FIRE ...
BRACKET ANNOUNCED: Rocky River is the top-seeded team in the Northeast District of the DII Buckeye State playoffs. In the tournament, the Pirates are in the
Northeast 5 bracket as part of the Bowling Green Region. The Double-R -- tabbed fifth in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association DII poll -- will have a first-round bye in the Northeast 5 bracket. On May 15, the Pirates will host the winner of No. 11 Tallmadge and No. 37 Akron Springfield.
BAGEL SALE: With Monday's 5-0 affair, the Pirates have now been involved in seven shutouts this season. River has gone 4-3 in those games. ... The Raiders -- now 10-0 at Rocky River Field (and outscoring foes 46-11) -- have three shutout wins at home. The squad's ERA at the Bus Yard needs no motor coach to be toted about. River's tidy 0.79 mark could easily be transported on a Vespa scooter.
by Skip Snow
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