Buckeye rolls past Rocky River 11-2 behind Costigan’s complete game and fourth-inning surge

Buckeye broke open a tie game with a four-run fourth inning and rode a strong all-around effort to an 11-2 win over Rocky River on Wednesday at Buckeye High School.

The Bucks first grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second. Aaron Hamman brought home a run on a fielder's choice, and Buckeye added another on a second fielder's choice to move in front 2-0. Rocky River answered in the top of the fourth, tying the game on Elliott Millin's double and an error, but the deadlock did not last long.

Buckeye responded with its decisive stretch in the bottom of the fourth. Avery Conde stole home to put the Bucks back in front, Rees Perkins followed with an RBI single to center, Logan Brown was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and another run scored on a passed ball. That sequence turned a 2-2 game into a 6-2 Buckeye advantage and gave the home side control.

Jeff Costigan handled the rest from the mound. The left-hander worked all seven innings, allowing four hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out eight and walking three. Costigan kept Rocky River from building on its brief rally in the fourth and finished off the complete-game win. Nathan Ishmael took the loss for the Pirates after allowing seven runs, six earned, over four innings.

Buckeye finished with 11 hits and steady production throughout the lineup. Brown drove in three runs from the middle of the order. Costigan, Perkins and Tyler Heers each collected two hits, helping the Bucks keep pressure on Rocky River's pitching staff. Buckeye also created extra chances on the bases. Conde and Cole Burtzlaff each stole multiple bases as the Bucks totaled five steals in the game.

The win adds another complete performance for Buckeye, which paired aggressive baserunning with timely hitting and a durable start on the mound.