June 5, 2017  Rocket Report

good morning baseball fans, it’s a beautiful day in Portland, and Happy 1^st mon day of June!  The Portland Rockets opened the 59^th season Sunday at Runkle-Miller field with 2 resounding victories, 6-1 and 14-0 over the Indianapolis Bandits. 5 inn.

Billy Geeslin hit a 2 run homer in the 4^th to break open a close game in the opener, Dalton tinsley smacked 2 triples, while dan bollenbacher pitched 4 shutout inn. Striking out 8 on but one hit. Rockets recipe for winning, the rocket core of veteran players delivering, this core of players over the last 6 yr, record 175-53….pretty darn impressive

The core, led by 11 yr. vet Bollenbacher and 8 year player geeslin both winning pitchers Sunday,  they pitch with pace and passion, game time 2 hr, game 1, 1 hr 24 game 2

The core, Tinsley 2 triples and a homer, Zach Tanner 2 home runs, one a grand slam into the left field woods, that sound-the crack of the bat from Zach had a moment that froze all in attendance in time, we haven’t found that ball

Tanner, 14 hr last year, hit 2 Sunday with  a double

Mitch waters, rocket captain 2 hits, colin Affolder 2 hits.

Rocket rookie kyle mckibben had a fine debut with 2 hits and a home run,

Yes rocket shots all over the ballpark , 5 home runs on the day

Bandit coach Bruce Fenimore and baseball icon himself, when asked what he told his club,  he said, “guys, you have one thing they don’t, Youth”

Rockets did have a “youth” answer,  lefthander max Habegger from carmel, finished his high school career and came to Portland Sunday, he is 6’7” and 205 lb.  his skills have garnered him a division one scholarship to  David Lipscombp university,,,,he throws hard..the kinda hard you can hear sizzle from the dugout, he struck out 5 in 3 inn.

So we had ace Dan bollenbacher 28 years old, the our youthful 19 year old max knock em out.

Max comes to Portland to play for the rockets as did his dad, nate Habegger from berne, was a teammate of mine back then. In fact, we had a tremendous crowd on hand to see Max. Ron and LaDonna Habegger from Berne, a Portland businessman one of our favorite folks, Bob McCabe and Patty in the house, \A host of family and friends on hand, they will no doubt be back next home game Thursday when Max retakes the hill.

We must mention of the heroic and heartwarming stories of the day, umpire dave stauffer stepped in and worked both games behind the plate,  love ya in Portland dave,  and a big thank you, 

Our best to umpire Joey Stull who had emergency medical day with his son

Also tony and sheri Reynolds from Muncie let us face talk all the way out to Petaluma California visiting with old rocket tyler Reynolds, now a baseball /basketball coach just north of san Francisco.  New outfield signs on the season, thanks friends at display craft.

Fans were milling about the corner of western and blaine, it is grand to see the game in Portland,,,also smiles from dave lyons, john welcher, Charlie and Vicki tague

Rockets return to action playing the grand lake mariners 3 nites in a row,

Tues 6pm start at coldwater high school, taste of the town nite, and Portland takes the invite..we have some coldwater guys, one of em, Derek thobe our starter

Wed at Celina

Thur our next home game grand lake mariners come to Portland thurs 7pm max Habegger the starter, lookin forward to that one,,,,must see
randy miller pg 14