Rockets win 11-1 over van wert in opener of playoffs  july 21,2011

Good morning baseball fans, it’s a beautiful day in Portland. Baseball players like hot weather---especially if you are on a hot streak, and the Portland rockets are on a roll. Portland trounced van wert thurs evening 11-1 in 5 innings in the playoff opener at runkle-miller field.  The van wert twisters scored first in the first, one run and that’s all they got.  Portland outfielder ben smith tied the score with a home run in the bottom of the first, then hit a 3 run bomb in the 3^rd and the rockets rolled on to the mercy rule win.

I called the second hand store last nite to remind jayland the game was a 730 start, and kiddingly said come out to the ballgame and maybe you will see ben smith hit another one in the parking lot and holy smoke, he hit 2 patented moon shots---smith now with 10 homers on the year. He is the first rocket to hit 10 home runs in a season since tommy pearce did in 2004.  another rocket launcher was on hand last nite, bud finch and shared stories of the early rockets and bud is modest,, he was known for tape measure blasts..  you know he said catches his eye about this year’s club. Defense. And he is right

The rockets have outscored opponents in league play 129 to 37 in 19 games.

The offense caught fire with 13 hits last nite, every starter but one had a hit, 3 by smith ,2 by roundtree, Campbell, and tinsely.  Doubles off the fence by roundtree and Justin Marrero. You might recall Marrero was the rocket clean up hitter last year, he returns from a wood bat league in new jersey and we are glad to have him in the lineup.  Pitchers martin, benbow, and Reynolds limited the twisters to just 5 hits. Speaking of returning, the mayor of sesame street dave Johnson made his 1^st rocket game last nite, with the maloys and our great helper kristie Delaney, sesame street is the rocket clubhouse—thanks guys,,,,last nite we had several from the commercial review on hand. And jack Ronald was quick to remind us steve Ronald was a member of that first rocket team in 1960.  happy birthday to mike dull and bill geeslin, I have a feeling billy ballgame will be back in rocket gold next year .

Rockets have now won 14 straight, record now 32-9.  playoff action continues with games sat. at noon and 730.  Portland the division winner in fact, hosts 4 playoff games all at runkle-miller field sat.  rockets play Warsaw at noon, then van wert and Decatur play, rockets return for the nite game at 730 vs. Decatur. The wapahani connection will be dealing ---wapahani pitchers wilburn and van matre on the mound.  Between games the rockets will shower and freshen up at the community center, (thanks jack houck) then we invite all rocket fans and family to join us for lunch around 3pm at the greasy pickle.

Warsaw Indians at noon sat------they have beaten us 3 games out of 4,  Portland has an ambush awaiting at the corner of blaine and western,,,,,this is good stuff, get on board the rockettrain  randy miller pg 14