This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

CVCA Defeats Indian Valley in the Ninth

Coach says intense training pays off on the field.

Nathan Rosenberger stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and no outs.

was trailing two runs before Rosenberger came to the plate.

He changed that.

Find out what's happening in Cuyahoga Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rosenberger hit a line-drive double down the right field line to score two to tie the game.

Pitcher Matt Slayer followed by sacrifice bunting in a run to give the Royals the 7-6 lead.  Nate Rogers’s infield single increased CVCA’s lead to 8-6, and closed Indian Valley out in the ninth for the win.

Find out what's happening in Cuyahoga Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s great for our confidence,” CVCA coach Kevin Gross said.  “We’re a young team.  To really begin to believe how if you keep working, you show up and you’re there, it does pay off.”

While CVCA’s (9-7, 6-3) offense excelled in the later innings, Slayer did the same.

After allowing three runs in the first inning, Slayer’s command of the strike zone improved.  The right-handed pitcher finished the game allowing six runs on six hits.

“He has a tough first inning and battling through that, and not giving up,” Gross said.  “That gave us a chance to get through it.”

While the Braves were effective offensively, it was the team’s base running that slowed them down.

The Royals caught several Indian Valley base runners in “run down” situations.  Five Braves’ runners were picked off, which hindered their offense down the stretch.

“Like I told these guys here, none of them enjoy working on run-downs in the gym on a rainy day, but it pays off,” Gross said. “We’ve been talking all year about the little details that it takes.”  

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Cuyahoga Falls