Even Steven For
Rochester Boys
By George Moltz

The Rochester High School baseball team has logged a 2-2 record to start the spring season, yet the Rockets truly qualify as "a work in progress."

Opening the season with a 17-2 blow-out win over Concord, Rochester was then clobbered by West Rutland in a double-header two days later. The boys rebounded to even their mark with a hard-fought 6-4 decision against Whitcomb on Thursday. Having shown somewhat of a "Jekyl and Hyde" personality thus far, it will be intriguing to see if these Rockets can settle into some consistency as the season progresses—and what character that consistency will reflect.

It was noted in this season’s preview article that the team’s success would come down to the pitchers’ ability to throw strikes, and the games thus far have evidenced that basic key of baseball. Against Concord, junior Taylor Fuller started on the mound and threw quite effectively, allowing only two hits and two walks in four innings of work. Fuller struck out seven. Classmate John Champion wrapped up the season-opening triumph with two impressive hitless innings, striking out five.

The offense pounded out 11 hits against Concord and patiently waited out 11 more walks. Rochester substituted early and often, with almost every player on the roster reaching base—11 different boys crossed home plate. The Rockets also thrilled their coaches by committing no errors in the field.

W. Rutland Loss

After such an awesome debut, Rochester’s coaches were totally perplexed with the results of the West Rutland debacle on Saturday April 19. Going back to last spring’s playoff game, the Rockets have looked like Little Leaguers in facing Westside, able to do little right but a lot wrong. Fuller was unavailable due to other commitments, but seven other Rocket hurlers were unable to tame the Golden Horde’s bats.

The details were truly ugly. In the first game, West Rutland amassed 17 hits, and enjoyed the generosity of five Rochester errors, and five more walks. With Greg Hughes intimidating them on the mound, the Rockets managed only one hit.

In the second game, Rochester actually led 9-7 going into the fifth inning before the roof caved in. Permitting 11 hits, and providing the opponent with 16 more base-runners via bases on balls and errors, the Rockets let a winnable game slip away. To focus on the positive, Champion pounded out three hits, including two doubles, good for three RBI. Sophomore Jace Curtis notched three safeties as well, and senior Richard Gaboury reached base three times with a double, a single, and a walk.

Whitcomb Win

As a result, Rochester went into last Thursday’s game with Whitcomb with some things to prove, and were actually pleased to find themselves in a competitive contest. In the end, the Rockets overcame some adversity to snatch a win on the road.

With the Hornets sending ace Ryan Litchfield to the mound, the boys in blue knew that they’d be challenged at the plate—and Litchfield proved up to the task, mowing down 17 batters via the strikeout. Whitcomb jumped on top with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ben Cayer worked a walk off of Rocket starting pitcher Enrique Murray, moved up on an error and walk to Litchfield, and scored thanks to a single by Ryan Rogler. Litchfield also crossed the plate after a wild pitch.

The bottom of the Rochester order rallied in the second with two outs. Seniors Mark Poole and Pat Crowley walked, and outfielder Scott Mitchell smacked a single to score Poole. Crowley crossed the plate when Murray (who had a colossal 4-for-4 day with the stick) came through with a clutch single. Mitchell then scored off of a Whitcomb error.

Enrique Murray’s success at the plate did not translate to the mound for the Rockets, and he really struggled in this start. After a decent second inning, Murray allowed his fifth walk and hit a batter in the third, prompting Coach Moltz to shift Fuller to the mound. After giving up a single to Joel Wright, putting the Hornets on top 4-3, Taylor pitched great, working out of trouble and getting big outs when Rochester really needed them.

Meanwhile, Murray was able to shift his focus to playing a strong shortstop and leading the way on offense. In the fifth, he led off with another hit, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Curtis. To his credit Litchfield rose to quell the rally, striking out the side after a walk to Jon Colton and a double-steal had Rockets bouncing off of second and third with no outs.

As luck would have it, Murray led off the seventh for Rochester in a tie game. He blasted a triple that just missed going over the road, and Curtis followed with a free pass. Coach Moltz rolled the dice and had sophomore Matt Brown pinch hit. An excellent contact hitter, facing a big-time strikeout pitcher, Brown delivered just what the doctor ordered, a swinging bunt. Whitcomb got the out at first, but Murray came home with Curtis scampering close behind, and the Rockets had seized the lead. Fuller allowed two base-runners but was able to close it out in the bottom of the stanza for the win.

It was a classic Rochester/ Whitcomb game, spirited and competitive but a lot of fun. The Rockets only managed six hits off of Litchfield, but the Hornets collected a mere four.

The pieces of the puzzle are starting to settle into place for Rochester, but there’s still a lot on the table being tried in creative ways. The next few weeks will answer a lot of questions.

Up next for the blue is a home date with South Royalton on Thursday, followed by a trek to Twinfield for another double-header on Saturday.

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