PA. BASEBALL Rockets roll past Eagles, 14-0

Slippery Rock jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead against Kennedy Catholic.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Slippery Rock High baseball coach Cory Hake's message prior to playing Kennedy Catholic was simple: play hard and take care of business early.
The Rockets took those words seriously Friday as they scored six runs in the first inning before coasting to a 14-0 win over the Golden Eagles (3-5, 3-6).
"We scored four runs in the first inning yesterday and today, we got six more," Hake said. "I told them afterwards that when you do that, it just makes the game much easier to play.
"You can relax, be more aggressive on the bases and that is what we have been needing to do," Hake said.
After watching the Rockets manhandle his team, Kennedy coach Sam Calenda was quick to point to two reasons for his team's lackluster performance.
"Coming off a big win like we had the other night, I think the players might have been down a little bit," Calenda said. "My best pitcher came down with the flu this morning and my next best pitcher who started today [Paul Namey] developed a tendon problem in his elbow.
"When your two best pitchers are down and the players are down, it makes for a long day," Calenda said.
Six errors, nine walks
While the Rockets (8-7, 7-6) were recipients of six Kennedy errors and nine walks, they also spread the wealth around with five different players involved in the eight-hit attack.
Leading the way was Adam Rose with a single, double, one run scored and a RBI while Sean Ray smacked a pair of RBI singles and scored two runs.
While the Rockets were having fun on offense, senior lefty Joel Basta was strong on the mound in tossing the five-inning shutout. Basta scattered three hits while walking one and striking out seven.
"He went 3-for-4 yesterday with two doubles and a triple, then came back today with a strong effort for us on the mound," Hake said. "It was only the second start of his career."
As for the playoff picture, both coaches admit their backs are to the wall.
"We do have a chance, but the door is getting closed more and more every day," Calenda said.
As for the Rockets, Hake and his players know they have to keep winning to either challenge Grove City or Hickory for one of the two guaranteed spots or a wild card.
"They are in the driver's seat," said Hake, referring to Grove City and Hickory, "but between us, Reynolds, Wilmington and Sharon, one of us could sneak in as a third team from the conference.