It is early in the season, but Middletown’s senior American Legion team is already dealing with frustration that helped end their season last year.

The Cobras lost to Rockland in the District 9 title game in 2018. And in a tournament earlier this month, Rockland stopped the Cobras 4-0 in the final of a Peekskill tournament.

But at the Cobra’s home, Field of Dreams in Montgomery Wednesday, Rockland led 7-2 before Middletown’s Logan DeVries singled home runs in the third and fourth innings.

In the fifth Middletown used three pitchers as Rockland scored seven runs to mercy rule the Cobras 14-4.

“We just don’t have a knock-out pitcher yet,” said Sam Citriniti, Middletown’s coach.

Citriniti is hoping the cohesion on the mound and with the entire squad, with players from Valley Central, Pine Bush, Goshen, Middletown and Monticello, will develop over time. He expects that to take about a couple of weeks, or at the season’s midway point for that to happen.

“That’s what it is,” he said.