July 7, 2014 firecracker classic Portland rocket notes

Defending champion rockets go 2-2 on weekend in firecracker classic at Carrington

Field this weekend.  Happy july 4^th to all god bless america

Rockets in dramatic fashion win fri nite opener 6-5 over south bend cardinals in 10 excruciating inn.  A Dalton tinsley walk off blast off the fence ended the game and made

A winner of mitch waters pitching in relief 3 inn.

Rockets trailed 5-0 in the last 2inn, insert rocket rally, tied it up and won in extras.

Craig martin the starter, connor milligan and Justin miller pitched before mitch came on and dominated from there.

Rockets earned the bye and returned sat and needed to defeat the ft. wayne league leader

Expos twice.  Portland pitchers dan bollenbacher and tyler Reynolds pitched awesome.

Rockets outhit the opp. 5 hits to 4 yet the breaks beat the boys and lose 2-0.

They score amazingly 2 times on balls hit back to the pitcher. 

Dan bollenbacher who has been the workhorse all summer, went the distance scattering 4 hits w 4 Ks. 

Rockets rebound and trounce the expos 10-0 in the nightcap. Tyler Reynolds was all that and more, 6 ks and 3 hits. Tinsley  the straw that stirs the drink, goes 3-3 and the rocket attack is back on track.  Jackers coach Brown shared w me his opinion that Dalton tinsley of kokomo and our Cf out of Shawnee state  is our best player. 

Our goal in any tournament,,,advance to championship Sunday and baby we are there;

Sunday  matchup vs the jackers, winner advances to the finals

With mitch on the mound we like our chances.   We are not too pleased about playing at 11 am on Sunday morning.  In fact, we take em on whenever, and guess what, there 28 year old starting pitcher overslept and they had to go to plan B

Rockets billy geeslin scores on waters double, pops out his shoulder, then pops in his shoulder then plays the rest of the game, a little tape –good to go

Rockets lead, but in the 3^rd mitch hits 2 batters in a row, the second one is the call of the game, the guy wears it,,,w 2 strikes he crowds the plate, turns his shoulder into the pitch and gets the call,

So trouble looms in the form of brian hakes,  walk him would have been a good choice to load the bases,,,but he hits his 3^rd home run of the tournament and the jackers romp 9-3

Milligan and alex delk pitch in relief

In the finals the expos win 4-3 over the jackers for the championship

 Rockets attack paced by geoff bowers of lima w 6 hits 5 each by tinsley, geeslin and Thomas mccowan.

Highlights 3 different days in ft. wayne and saw don and marilyn maloy twice.

In fact the Reynolds of Muncie and the affolders of berne and the barnes of kokomo we had a good fan contingent.

Rockets have won 7 of their last 9

But the jackers have beaten us  4 of 5 this year.

Portland record 14-9 jackers are now 17-6

Happy birthday this weekend to my friend Robert freemyer from ft. recovery

Thanks buffalo bar and grill for the ice this weekend.

Rockets on a homestand,,,,come see us when you need a break from the fair,,,home games tues , thurs and sat afternoon.

Thurs rockets vs. twin city bankers at 7pm   hope Vicky tague and Charlie can make it

Stick one an extra one in the cooler for the old coach

Randy miller

Pg 14

Player      ab    r  h   rbi

Tinsley    15    2  5   1

Barnes      11    0  1   0

Geeslin    13    2   5    2

Bowers     15    4   6    1

Waters      13    2   3    2

Delk          12    4   2    1

Mccowan   11   2    5    3

Affolder     10   1   3    2

Miller          8    0   2    1

Krumlauf     6   1    2    1