The Ashton A’s scored four runs in the 11th inning to defeat the Richland Center Rockets, 10-6, here at North Park Saturday evening in the Rockets’ home opener.

Ashton, the defending Home Talent League champion, evened its record at 1-1, and the Rockets, who won their opener, slipped to 1-1.

A large crowd watched Ashton break a scoreless tie with a six-run outburst in the seventh inning. The Rockets responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and tied the game, 6-6, with a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. 

Novinski, the third of three Ashton pitchers, earned the win while Andy Chitwood, who relieved starter James Oelke for the Rockets, took the loss.

Miscues proved costly for the Rockets.  They committed five errors including one during Ashton’s six-run seventh and two that opened the door for the A’s four-run 11th.

Each team had 10 hits although the Rockets had only one extra-base hit. Ashton had three. Derek Prochaska’s grand slam that easily cleared the leftfield fence was the big blow. Meinholz doubled home two insurance runs in the 11th .

Chitwood put the Rockets on the scoreboard with a single scoring Travis Morris, and Jon Killoy belted a two-run double plating Travis Jacobson and Chitwood in the Rockets’ seventh. 

Pinchhitter James Knower was hit by a pitch to start the Rockets’ ninth. With one out Chitwood singled. Killoy’s sacrifice fly scored one run. John Walsh walked, and Oelke singled to load the bases. Aaron Beranek singled home two runs to tie the game. 

The Rockets loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 11th but could not come up with any more heroics. 

Oelke scattered three hits while walking two and fanning three over six innings before Ashton took advantage of two walks, an error, and four hits in th seventh. Chitwood hurled four innings before Walsh retired the final out in the 11th. 

Bearanek, Chitwood, Killoy and Travis Morris each had two hits for the Rockets. 

The Rockets are scheduled to hos Cross Plains (2-0) on Sunday, May 17.