Crusaders dominate Rockets in 9-2 victory | Latest News, Sports, Employment

Catholic Central Crusaders Dominate Conotton Valley Rockets in 9-2 Victory

STEUBENVILLE — The Catholic Central Crusaders showcased their offensive prowess and solid pitching to secure a 9-2 victory over the Conotton Valley Rockets on Monday at Vaccaro Field.

Despite a slow start and missed scoring opportunities, the Crusaders (10-7) managed to tally 12 hits, including seven extra-base hits, to overpower the Rockets.

Pitcher Daniel Free delivered a strong performance on the mound, striking out three batters and allowing only two runs on three hits. The defense behind him also made several key plays to support his efforts.

After taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, Catholic Central faced some challenges with baserunning errors and double plays that hindered their scoring opportunities. However, they managed to break the tie in the fourth inning when senior Anthony Kerker came through with a clutch hit, driving in two runs to give the Crusaders a 3-1 lead.

The floodgates opened in the following innings, with multiple doubles leading to six more runs for Catholic Central. Kody Carver stood out with three hits and three RBIs, while Peyton Rauch and Kerker contributed two RBIs each.

The Rockets (9-9) struggled to generate offense against Free, mustering only three singles in the game.

Catholic Central will now have a day off before facing Beallsville on Wednesday and gearing up for a highly anticipated showdown with Big Red on Thursday.

The impressive win against Conotton Valley marks the Crusaders’ 10th victory of the season, showcasing their strength as they head into the final stretch of their schedule.