by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
Mother Nature is a constant threat to the Northeast Ohio baseball.
Mix that threat with the need to move games for the playoffs and the result can be a complete mangling of a team's schedule.
Such is the situation for the Streetsboro baseball team this week. After earning a season split with Windham May 6 with a 5-4 win, Streetsboro had a doubleheader with Springfield washed out May 9. No make-up date was announced at press time.
Streetsboro also had its May 12 game at Rootstown rescheduled due to the playoffs.
As a result, Streetsboro's record stood at 9-10 overall and 5-5 in the Portage Trail Conference County Division.
The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows: The Rockets will play at Rootstown May 14 at 4:30 p.m. Streetsboro will then open its Division II playoff run at Aurora May 15 at 4:30 p.m.
If Streetsboro beats Aurora, it will play at Mogadore Field May 16 at 4:30 p.m. in a Division II sectional final. If the Rockets lose to the Greenmen, they will host Rootstown at 4:30 p.m.
Streetsboro will round out the week with a doubleheader at Cloverleaf May 17 with the first game starting at 11 a.m.
According to Rockets coach Chris Scisciani, all the schedule switching can be tough on a team.
"It's tough to keep them mentally alert," Scisciani said. "We've been locked up in the gym at times this week. We just try to fine-tune the skills with different drills."
The game against Windham was a wild one, according to Scisciani. The Rockets were attempting to rebound from a 12-3 loss at home to the Bombers the previous night.
"It was a crazy game," Scisciani said. "Kevin Miller was pitching a no-hitter through the fifth inning. Then, we made some errors and they scored four runs in the sixth. Then we rallied back with four in the top of the seventh. It was a pretty emotional night."
Despite four unearned runs in the top of the sixth, Miller had a fine game, allowing two hits in seven innings of work. He also struck out 13 Bombers.
Miller improved to 4-2 on the season and will get the start in Streetsboro's playoff game with Aurora, according to Scisciani.
"I lit into them a little bit in the dugout to start the seventh inning," Scisciani said. "It lit a fire under them."
Streetsboro took advantage of some wild pitching to start the rally, but it was freshman left-fielder Brandon Violi who had the big blow in the top of the seventh. He smacked a two-run double to left to plate the tying runs and later scored the go-ahead run. Miller allowed a single in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the final two batters to preserve the win.
Miller and Violi each had two hits, including a double, to lead Streetsboro's offense. Anthony Edwards added a pair of singles.
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
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