Although they have only played three games so far, the Streetsboro Rockets’ baseball team cannot complain about the start they have had to the season. Streetsboro remained undefeated when it dominated Metro Athletic Conference rival Akron Springfield 14-4 last Wednesday at American Legion Field.
“We are excited about our start,” said Coach Chris Scisciani. “We wish we could have gotten in a few more games than we what we have so far but weather has not been cooperating, but 3-0 in the league is a great start and the boys are playing well and they are excited and we are excited too.”
After racing out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Rockets’ (3-0, 3-0) momentum quickly faded when sophomore right-hander Scott Wilson struggled with his command.
After Wilson loaded the bases by walking the leadoff batter, hitting a batter and surrendering a base hit, shortstop Gabe Malek hit a RBI-single to right field to trim Streetsboro’s advantage to 2-1.
Freshman third baseman Gabe Jurmanovich drew a bases-loaded walk, evening the score at 2-2 followed by another bases-loaded walk to sophomore right fielder Martin Thurston to push the Spartans ahead. Senior righty Michael Knox plated another run when he struck out swinging but a Streetsboro fielding error allowed the Spartans to push their lead to 4-2.
The Streetsboro sophomore right-hander issued three walks, including a pair of bases-loaded walks, to surrender four runs (three earned) on two hits in the bottom of the first frame.
It marked the first time this season the Rockets ever trailed in a game but Streetsboro responded with an explosive second inning, scoring six runs on four hits and three walks.
Streetsboro loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk and Wilson hit an infield RBI-single to shortstop, cutting the lead to 4-3 and senior second baseman Jack Pincoe recaptured the lead when he hit a 2-run single to center field, giving the Rockets a 5-4 advantage.
The Rockets remained alert on the base paths, scoring three more runs on a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch and a passed ball to take a commanding 8-4 advantage.
“We really have not had any adversity this year and we gave up four in the bottom of the first so we went down 4-2,” said Scisciani. “That is the first time this year where we have had to face a little bit of adversity and then we answered back in the second. It was nice to see our players bounce back.”
Streetsboro continued adding to its lead, scoring six more runs in the next three innings to trigger the 10-run mercy rule after the end of the fifth frame.
Junior right-hander Jack Bratten kept the Spartan batters quiet by tossing four innings of scoreless ball, surrendering only one hit and striking out seven.
“Jack is a great kid,” Scisciani said. “He is a junior and will be a four-year letterman for us. He started for us as a shortstop as a freshman and pitched for us a lot as a freshman and pitched for us a lot last year as a sophomore. His arm is starting to get into shape and him being able to throw pitches for a strike with a fastball, curveball or change-up in any count, that is just huge for us so we are excited about his arm in the future too.”
Through only three games, the Rockets have outscored their MAC rivals by a 57-10 margin and have been sparked by their junior class such of Batten, catcher Braden Craft and outfielder Matt Klimak.
“Matt is going to be a two-year letterman so even though they are young, they have varsity experience,” Scisciani said. “Braden Craft has been our starting catcher since he has been a freshman and he throws in the mid-80s so no one has seen him throw this year yet so we are really excited with the juniors so we have.”
According to Scisciani, for the first time in a while Streetsboro is blessed with depth because of the development of its youth and travel league teams. As exciting of a start it has been to the season, he added that his team knows there is plenty more work to do having yet to play the conference heavyweights such as Norton, Field and Woodridge.
“The big teams are coming so that makes me feel good because I don’t want the kids to get too overconfident and think we are going to roll through everyone because that is not going to be the case, we are going to really need to focus,” he said.
Streetsboro suffered its first loss of the season when it was defeated 7-0 by MAC rival Woodridge in a home game on Monday night.
After a road contest against Woodridge on Tuesday and a home game against Akron Coventry on Thursday, the Rockets will hit the road and take on Field at Brimfield Township on Monday at 5 p.m.
