The rookie club in Russelville blasted off to a quick start going 6-1 in its first week of play. Ironically it was only good for second place in the Spike Nolan League's Big Country Division as the Bend Wild Things went 7-0 for the week. Those two teams do square off the week after next.
Pitching for the Rockets was on point last week as three of the six wins were of the shutout variety. The K's are piling up like moon rocks in the cargo bay on a return trip from the moon. Starter Vincente Gonzales has struck out 15 batters in 11 innings while dishing out a 2.45 ERA in his two starts while starter Ioan Gusatu rung up 14 batters in 8 innings in his pair of starts with a 1.08 ERA.
Relievers are also contributing to the strikeout stockpile as Eduardo Harms has 6 strikeouts in 4 innings and Andrei Bajaenica/Allen Grondin/Freddie Macaulay combining for another 15 K's in 9.1 innings.
Combined with the fact that the Russelville starters have not allowed a run in 5 of the 7 starts, it is safe to say that the pitching did not disappoint the fans in week 1.
On the offensive side of things, Vern Tinnin continues to get on base going 8 for 20 with 2 home runs and a .538 on-base percentage. Farraj bin Faisal, one of three catchers on the squad, is hitting .444/.545 with a pair of homers as well with half of the at-bats as Tinnin.
While the locals are not expecting this every week, they will take any of these weeks as they come.