Rocky River High School’s varsity baseball season took a sharp turn this week when head coach Ed Piazza and assistant coach Michael Harper resigned following an undisclosed incident involving players during a team trip to Myrtle Beach the weekend of April 10–11. The district says it accepted the resignations and plans to finish the spring season under interim leadership while officials sort out exactly what happened.
District Alerts Families, Hits Pause On Season
In an email to families, district and building administrators said the incident began late on Friday, April 10 and continued into the early hours of April 11. According to the message, school leaders checked on all players, made sure they were safe and contacted the Rocky River Police Department. As part of the response, practices and games were put on hold to give the district time to investigate, according to WOIO.
Coaching Shakeup As Assistant Steps In
After meetings with district staff, Piazza and Harper submitted their resignations, which the district accepted. To keep the season moving, current assistant coach Craig Moro has been tapped to serve as varsity head coach for the rest of the year, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Undefeated Start Overshadowed
Before the off-field trouble, the Pirates were rolling. They opened the season 7-0 and then went 4-0 in the Myrtle Beach tournament, building serious early momentum heading into conference play. Game recaps and the district’s baseball pages detail the trip results and win streaks, per Rocky River City Schools.
Details Scarce As Investigation Continues
So far, school officials have not released any specifics about the nature of the incident. Both the Rocky River Police Department and Myrtle Beach police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. District leaders say their priority is supporting student-athletes and families while the review plays out, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Season To Resume Under Interim Leadership
The district says it will share updates through school communications and its website as the situation develops, and that games will restart once administrators decide it is appropriate. For now, Moro will lead the varsity squad, and the district says it remains focused on supporting players, families and staff as the season moves forward, per WOIO.
