ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 14, 2024) -- Rocky River battled back from a mid-game 3-1 deficit to earn a 6-3 win over Columbia and the team's 20th win of the season Tuesday. In a contest that marked Senior Day for the Double-R program, the Buccaneers got a combined five runs batted in from Pirate Greybeards.
Seniors Dan Capka, Anthony Ferchill, Jack Petrus, Luke Petrus, and Thomas Rossi were honored in a pregame ceremony. Messrs. Petrus, Petrus, and Rossi would go on to collect the five senior RBIs. It was the Petrus brothers coming up big in the in Rocky River (20-5) booking three runs and taking a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
A single, two walks, and a Columbia error set up the rally. Jack Petrus (sacrifice fly) and Luke Petrus (two-out RBI single) filed the at-bats that tied the game 3-3 and then lifted River to a 4-3 advantage.
With junior reliever Joe Brant pitching in relief of Jack Petrus (three innings pitched: three runs on two hits and a walk), the visiting Raiders would score no more and the Pirates hung on to vault their record at Rocky River Field to 12-0. Brant went four frames, allowing two singles while whiffing five. The Pirate port-sider lowered his season ERA to 1.62, and he has now struck out 29 batters in 30-1/3 innings.
River prevailed despite being outhit 4-3. Rossi (1-for-3, run, RBI, stolen base) logged one of those three Pirate base knocks. The Double-R did manage four walks and five steals, but the home nine went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
On Wednesday, the Great Lakes Conference West Division champs and 10th ranked team in the Buckeye State (
Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association DII poll) will host a
DII Northeast District Tournament battle against the Tallmadge Blue Devils. First pitch in the contest between top-seed Rocky River and No. 11 Tallmadge is slated for 5 p.m. The Blue Devils advanced to Wednesday's game by defeating No. 37 Akron Springfield 10-0 in a Monday first-round game.
by Skip Snow
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