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Rockets win home opener with seventh inning rally By Ed Topoleski The Rockets started out strong and ended even stronger. That�s a nice formula for success, or at least something to build on after slipping past Corry, 5-4, in the home opener Friday afternoon. The Rockets got down to business early yesterday in the bottom of the first after shutting down the Beavers in the top of the frame. Ben Amsler was Titusville�s first base runner of the afternoon when he stroked a singles of Corry�s Joe Kalika. Senior center fielder Jarrett Watson advanced Amsler to third when he connected on a two-bagger. Joe Snyder singled home Amsler and Watson after Ryan Smith grounded out to third base for a quick 2-0 lead. At that point, it appeared as though the Rockets were on their way to an easy victory. Corry had other plans. Kalika made it a 2-1 game in the second when he drove in Will McCrary from third on a deep line drive to left-center field. A perfect throw from Watson to Amsler prevented Nick Sproveri from also scoring on Kalika�s liner. The two teams traded runs through the meat of the game until the Beavers took the lead in the top of the seventh. With one out in the top of the seventh, Scott Wyman doubled for the Beavers and came around to score when Tyler Howard singled. Going into the bottom of the seventh, Titusville trailed, 4-3. But the top of the order was due up � the group that put together two quick runs in the first inning. Amsler, as he did in the first inning, got the Rockets going in the seventh when he stroked out a one-out single. Up next, Watson advanced Amsler to second with a single of his own. With Smith at the plate, Amsler and Watson each advanced one base on a passed ball. Then, Amsler tied the game at 4-4 on a wild pitch as Watson moved to third. Smith finished off the Beavers with a deep sacrifice fly to center field that easily allowed Watson to score from third. �Those guys have been around,� Titusville head coach Dewey Watson said of Amsler, his son, Jarrett, Smith and Snyder. �That builds character and shows character of a team when you can go down in the top of the seventh and come back and score two to bring it back.� Travis Burton pitched seven solid innings for the Rockets. Only one of the four runs he allowed was earned. �Yeah, he got the game ball,� Watson said of Burton. �He got bit right in the foot a couple times by errors. He only gave up one earned run � threw 80 pitches in seven innings.� NOTES: Coach Watson praised the defensive play of first baseman Andrew Wilkens, who made at least four nice scoops at his position. �Wilkens had a very nice defensive game at first base,� Watson said. �That saved our bacon a few times, him pulling out some big time scoops.� � The Rockets (1-1) return to action Tuesday when they travel to take on Region 5 Hickory. Add a comment |
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