Ritter deals as Roseville blanks Twelve Bridges 10-0

Foothill Valley League play picked up Monday afternoon as first-place Roseville hosted Twelve Bridges in game one of a three-game series with major implications. Roseville entered the contest needing three wins to lock up the league crown, while the Raging Rhinos were looking to turn the tide after a tough series loss to Placer. It was all Roseville in a 10-0 victory in five innings behind a dominant outing from UC Davis commit Tyler Ritter, who struck out 10 over four shutout innings while allowing one hit and one walk. The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Preston Cubbler and a two-run double by Ashton Chang. Roseville plated five more runs in the second. Benjamin Jordan delivered a two-RBI single, Chang followed with another two-run hit, and Devin Johnson added an RBI double to push the lead to 9-0. Chang, hitting in the No. 7 spot, went 3 for 4 with five RBIs. Cubbler added two hits and three RBIs. Roseville totaled 12 hits and drew seven walks. The Tigers also played a clean game defensively behind Ritter and reliever Blake Connors, who tossed a scoreless fifth to complete the combined one-hitter. DJ Catalano had the only hit for the Rhinos, who struck out 11 times. Five errors plagued the Twelve Bridges defense. None of the nine runs surrendered by starting pitcher Trent Grandquis were earned. Jake Dunn threw the final two innings of relief and held Roseville to one run and four hits. Roseville (17-4, 13-3 FVL) inched closer to the league title and was scheduled to visit Twelve Bridges (16-7, 8-5) again Thursday. Game three is Friday at Roseville.