Blog Archives

Scrimmages are a time to learn

3/13/2025

"I want you to get in to a rundown," Titusville coach Roy Schweitzer said last week during a home scrimmages preseason baseball game.

Scrimmages are a place to check out where your skills and mind are at before the official games kick in to gear.

It's also a training ground for new umpires to learn the ins and outs on best field positions to see plays and be sure they have the rules down.

Two local teams met up on both the baseball and softball diamonds during this short break in the winter weather to dust off the cobwebs.

The regular season is set to get underway next week for both Rocky Grove and Titusville.

All have a good mix of experienced varsity players and talent experience players in travel ball coming up as freshman

Schweitzer's Rockets have nine freshman, many with solid ability and the possibility to contribute even early in the season.

Meghan Greene's girls have five freshman, all who played on last year's TMC junior league team that were one win away from a state championship.

Rocky Grove softball also benefits from strong players from that TMC squad coming up going solid veterans.

The Grove boys all look young, but were standing toe to toe with Titusville who has eyes on winning their own region this season.

Are you ready for some baseball and softball. This recent sun and warm-up gives a sense of hope, though we all know it is NW Pa. and winter always goes out kicking and screaming.

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The big fireball in the sky let us play outside today

3/11/2025

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Rocky Grove and Titusville got a chance to stretch their muscles and get in a little preseason softball Tuesday after noon. Though by the end it was getting chilly, the sun was out and gave players a bit of practice competing against another school.

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Rocky season ending for Orioles

3/8/2025

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Every shot was contested by stabbing Lancer defense

The Orioles started off hot but struggled to keep pace with the Neshannock Lancers down the stretch as Rocky Grove fell 64-39 in the first round of the PIAA 2A basketball playoffs.

It was a quick start for the Orioles who went up 2-0 off a steal by Schiffer Anderson and a layup by Landen Carter. Connor Ritchey hit for three 40 seconds later and it looked as if Rocky Grove was in control.

Neshannock finally answered with a six-point run to take the lead for the first time. It was back and forth the rest of the quarter, which ended with a fastbreak by the Lancers to go ahead 15-13.

Rocky Grove would be playing catch up for the reminder of the contest.

The Orioles offense managed only five points in the second quarter versus 10 Lancers points. Three of those Rocky Grove points came from another Ritchey three-pointer with only :17 left in the half.

Rocky Grove headed into the locker from down 18-25.

A spark of hope ignited at the start of the second half of play as Carter and Noah Baughman hit back-to-back threes to pull the Orioles within one.

But that was as close as they could get to the lead.

Neshannock outscored Rocky Grove 19-14 in the third and 20-7 in the fourth to take home the win.

Carter led the Orioles with 19 points on the afternoon. Baughman, who scored 501 points this season according the Erie Times-News, was held to only nine.

The Orioles, who played in the 1A bracket in previous years, can build on this year's tough post-season run as they will likely return four of their five starters next season.

With the loss, they say goodbye to starting point guard Schiffer Anderson, as well as off-the-bench players Jamison Hughes and Jacob Harton.

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Rocky Grove enters state tournament as district's second seed

3/2/2025

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The Orioles will be looking for a bounce back win as they enter the PIAA state tournament as the district 10 second seed when they take on Neshannock on Saturday in Oil City.

Rocky Grove moved into the state tournament after falling to Lakeview 72-53 Friday in the district championship game at Slippery Rock University.

The Orioles grabbed the tipoff and were looking strong scoring first on a three pointer by Connor Ritchey.

The teams traded buckets, turnovers, and missed shots as the first quarter ended with Rocky Grove ahead 15-12.

The Sailors' defense kept the Orioles offense caged in the second, allowing Rocky Grove only five points to their 10.

Noah Baughman hit a layup right before the buzzer to help his team take a little momentum into the locker room despite falling behind 20-22.

In the second half, the Orioles soared after the Sailors, finally tying the game at 28 with a trey by Schiffer Anderson.

They took a slim lead on another Ritchey three pointer.

Then Lakeview went ahead by one before Landen Carter hit for two and Rocky Grove held the lead until the last second of the quarter.

The third quarter was a bit of deja vu for Rocky Grove.

They tied it at 41 with a three pointer by Baughman with 6:55 left to play and again at 44-all with a trey by Ritchey at the 6:17 mark.

Unfortunately, from there Lakeview sailed away with the game, outscoring the Orioles 28-9 down the stretch.

Baughman led Rocky Grove with 19 points. Ritchey had 11, Carter 10, Anderson eight and Aiden Focht had three. Hayden Bevie added two to round out the Orioles offensive effort.

With the second-place finish, Rocky Grove moves to 21-4 on the season.