SLIPPERY ROCK — In the first and third innings, Oswayo Valley got the first two batters of the inning out.
However, the elusive third out haunted the Green Wave as Rocky Grove raced out to a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the third inning en route to a 7-1 win Monday at Slippery Rock University in the first round of the PIAA Class A baseball playoffs.
“These last two playoff games are our only two losses of the year,” OV head coach Brad Buchholz said. “Against DCC, I thought we played well. We just didn’t come up with the big hit. Today, we didn’t come up with the big hit and we didn’t come to play mentally. This is the first time all year we didn’t show up mentally.”
The Green Wave were still in the game until the fifth inning, trailing only 3-0. Then came the big inning for the District 10 champion Orioles (17-5).
After getting one out, OV pitcher Garren Black walked the next two batters before giving up a single and a double. With the bases loaded, Rocky Grove’s Travis Perry hit a booming fly ball over the Green Wave outfield, clearing the bases.
The double was the second of the game for Perry, who also had a triple, and finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. The next batter in the inning, Josh Kirwin, drove in Perry with a double of his own, and the Orioles had plated four runs to go up, 7-0.
Kirwin was also 3-for-3 with three RBI.
“[Travis] Perry, their shortstop, he mashed two balls that were 390 [feet],” Buchholz said. “You don’t see many high school kids hitting it that far. He hurt us, as did a couple others. They got two-out hits. We didn’t.”
One bright spot of the day belonged to OV outfielder Grant West, who hit a deep fly ball and raced for second base. The throw was wide to second as West took off for third, and after another wild throw, West rounded the bases to score the Green Wave’s only run of the day.
“He’s been one of our top players all year, if not the top player,” Buchholz said of his junior outfielder. “He could probably wrestle in college, play football in college and play baseball if he wanted to. He’s a great student and an even better person.”
OV didn’t help itself, committing a few crucial errors and not coming up with its own two-out offense. In the first inning, the Green Wave loaded the bases with two outs, but the threat was quelled by Orioles’ pitcher Conner Curran, as he forced a foul popup.
Curran finished the day allowing just five hits and the one run, while striking out one and walking five. Kirwin came on in relief, pitching 1 ⅔ innings and allowing two hits.
OV was doubled off first once and had a runner picked off second after a sacrifice bunt had moved the player into scoring position.
“We got guys on,” Buchholz said. “We just didn’t come up with the big hit. We had a couple real key baserunning mistakes that took us out of innings. That was the story of the day.”
The Green Wave’s season ends at 22-2, though there is optimism in the program. Key players returning and two consecutive years of PIAA playoff appearances — including two trips to the District 9 title game with one championship last year — has laid a foundation the school can build on in coming years and create an expectation of playing meaningful games in late spring.
“Physically, I think we’re there,” Buchholz. “Believing in ourselves is the next thing. We’ve got to prepare ourselves mentally and believe we belong.”
