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Posted Jul 19/10 - Alumni/Youth League Clinic a Success

Rocket Home Run Derby, Youth League Instructional Clinic and Alumni Gathering Success    7/17/10

  

Good morning baseball fans, it’s a beautiful day in Portland!


Saturday it was all Portland baseball at Runkle-Miller Field., kids from 8 and under to Kids 55 and older, all Portland, all playing baseball.  Portland Rocket alumni home run derby, and youth league instructional clinic was the theme for the day.

Corey Heniser brought out his pitching machine, and we all smacked the ball around.  With the help of Rob Lennartz, Jason Minnich, and a host of other moms and dads, we had about 30 kids out shagging fly balls during home run derby. Lico and I played music and cracked jokes on the sound system watching this circus event unfold…  and these guys did well!


The alumni report a success, no pulled muscles, no herniated discs.

Mike Hosier and myself of the 70’s,  and Corey Heniser, who still holds the Portland Rocket record with his 26 game hitting streak in the  80’s.  Also, Ron Dull, captain of our 1st state championship teams in 1985,  Laramee Van Skyock and Jason Stanton on the 1996 state championship team. Rocket favorite, Brandon Cooley, the catcher on our 2005 state championship team also participated.  70’s, 80’s 90’s....almost sounds like one of those K-Tel music commercials!


Great music last night in Ft. Recovery at the park with Gary Burbank and his blues band. 


Anyway, the home run derby became a contest between those old fellas and current Rocket players. Every one got a chance to hit, even commercial review reporter, Steve Grabicz and rocket coach Kevin McCowan.  The finals came down to Laramee Van Skyock who can hit 'em out left, or right-handed, Corey Heniser, looks in great shape and Heath Williams and Brandon Vanmatre from the current Rocket Team.  The winner was Brandon Van Matre in a playoff, good job Bubba.


But the best part of the day was seeing those kids, boys and girls, mind you running rampant around the park.  We had an instructional clinic, 4 stations with Rocket coaches working on fielding, pitching, cage hitting and on-field hitting---Brad and Easha fixed up the free Kool-Aid.  I passed out eating coupons for Wings and Rings. There was a hub of activity all about,  baseball moms and dads following around to take pictures and offer encouragement.  Great day  for Portland and thanks for your insights and manpower, Corey Heniser. I think we have some future Rockets in the making.

This just in rocket game Sunday rained out----how about that...Rockets took a 5-0 lead over Crumback in the 1st inning but the storm came quickly to end the Fort Wayne Double-Header.

Heath Williams, Riley Muhlenkamp, Tom McCowan, Bryce Cook, and John Clawson all had base hits in the 1st, but Derek Mounsey never got to pitch ----it rained hard!


Rockets next action...Tuesday night at 7pm in Portland vs. Indiana Wesleyan.

Come see the Boys of Summer on this the last week of the regular season. Rockets at Runkle-Miller on Tuesday 7pm.

Be there or be rectangular!!

Randy Miller pg 14

 

 

 

 





 


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