World baseball congress notes july 29,2011

Good morning baseball fans, it’s a beautiful day in Portland.  The Portland rockets host the 3^rd world baseball congress national tournament this weekend at runkle-miller field.

Games begin sat. at noon Portland vs. Decatur. The rockets will also play at 730 sat nite vs. the Illinois jayhawks (Chicago).  Last year’s field was 8 teams from 5 states, battle creek mich the winner.  This year we have 4 teams, Portland, Decatur, the Louisville angels and the winner 2 years ago, the Illinois jayhawks. 

Portland has been hosting statewide tournaments since 1991, only possible with community support.  Just yesterday the boys from the parks dept, tom hicks and company along with jim ieynkes and his crew from the jail were out prepping the field.  Then for good measure, Rodney miles of miles moving and lawncare brought his tractor in for maintenance on the bullpens. All part of the Portland machine that makes this community just a notch above ----thanks guys, love ya in Portland

Portland’s team is a notch above as well, coming off a big weekend claiming the heartland league;s eastern division crown, the rockets take a 16 game winning streak into sat. action.  Portland’s trip to east Chicago for the league championship was cut short due to rain, still to be made up. Happy birthay Kathy miller

This note: coach lea selvey is helping coach the summit city sluggers and they are advancing in pool play in Chicago.  They were placed as of thurs, 12^th of 50 teams. 

Talking with josh Gibson of the lions club, he shares the jay county fair is bigger and better than ever,  so why not take a break and catch some of the tournament action this weekend at runkle=miller field.  Rockets record 34-9 play Decatur at noon sat, then at 730 vs. Illinois jayhawks ---it is jay county hospital nite, should be festive----mayor hosier will probably stop out

Rockets will also be in action on Sunday at 10 am vs. the Louisville angels then ;the championship in the afternoon.

It is all a buzzin in Portland, not just demolition derby—and we all root for orie poole-he is the Johnny cash of jay county—it is tournament baseball at the corner of western and blaine,  lawn chair and cooler ---take me out to the ballgame and root root root for the home team

Craig martin of taylor university is slated to go game 1, devin wilburn of Selma game 2, and dan bollenbacher game 3  should we make the finals, eric van matre the starter

Randy miller pg 14

All games to be played at Runkle-miller field  Entry fee will be $300

American league rules with Dh Composite bats are allowed, flip for home team.

Saturday

Noon Portland Rockets vs Decatur Dirty Birds

2:30  Decatur Dirty Birds vs Louisville Angels

5:00  Louisville Angels vs Illinois Jayhawks

7:30  Illinois Jayhawks vs Portland Rockets

Sunday

10 am Portland Rockets vs Louisville Angels

noon   Illinois Jayhawks vs Decatur Dirty birds

2 pm   Consolation game

4:30 pm Championship game

Area 51 wood works will be vending the tournament on Saturday afternoon, stop by and check out their wares!

Good luck this weekend.