July 9, 2012 rockets sweep south bend

Good morning baseball fans, it’s a beautiful day in Portland.  After a delightful 4^th of july parade, special thanks to patriot sportswear, the Portland rockets returned to action this weekend in south bend.  The road warriors did good winning all 4 games.  Sat the rockets defeated the south bend sultans 4-0 and 7-0.  mitch waters on the mound and billy wellman his batterymate, they set the tone for the weekend.  with a heat index reading of 105, mitch went the distance allowing but 3 hits no walks, 10 Ks.  1 hr 22 min. Michael caley pitched game 2 and shut out the sultans, 7-0.  Michael from markle 2 walks 5 hits 6 K’s.  Justin Marrero had 3 hits. Waters and chris miller 2 hits each in game 1.  Marrero had 3 hits in game 2 as did billy wellman.  2 hits each for Dalton tinsely, Thomas mccowan, Justin miller and adam Wilson.

Of note:  home plate umpire george zinnich 80 years old.

Sultans record 7-5,,,,Portland rockets move to 18-6.  6 game winning streak going into tues home game vs. van wert twisters,,,,,,,crossroads nite

Rockets won twice sun over the michiana scrappers.  Dan bollenbacher the winner in the first game went 6 inn. No earned runs , 3 hits 3 Ks 2 walks.  Rockets win 8-4, 4 hits by Marrero including a home run smash to left. Wellman had 2 hits. 

The final game of the weekend was toughest.   Rockets came all the way back from a 6-0

Deficit and win 9-6 in extra innings.  Starter eathan daggett was touched for 6 runs in the first 2 inn but  cody Harrison from frankton kept the rockets in the game for the next 4 inn.  Rocket pinch hitter billy geeslin hit a 2 run home run in the 6^th  to tie the game ----so emotional,  he shared he dedicated it to my mom and it was his first ever in his baseball career. Part of the emotion, billy making his return to baseball after a year off for tommy john surgery on his right arm.  We were reminiscing before game 2 his days as a kid shagging flys in rocketland watching his dad pitch.   A rocket memory deluxe was a 6 year old billy singing take me out the the ballgame in portland.   His shot tied the game,  and billy geeslin the slugger turned into goose the winning pitcher as he pitched the final 2 inn.  Tyler Reynolds scored on a wild pitch in the 8 th for what proved to be the winning run.  Final score Portland 9 michiana 6.

2 hits tinsely and mccowan in the game. Only 1 hit Marrero.. but Justin Marrero was an awesome 11-15 on the weekend. 

Good to visit with coaches ron milovich, an old friend from the south bend senators, and Javier Jimenez former foe now coaching the scrappers.  Old rocket from berne area, rod bollenbacher on hand, big dan’s uncle.. he played with the rockets in 1986, 87.

Cost for to play in the Chicago league $1000,,,,Portland  charges 50

Interesting to note sun lf,,waters,Wilson, daggett, Reynolds  3 pitchers.

Rockets looking forward to continuing their 6 game streak,,,,tues nite crossroads nite

The van wert twisters coming to town Tuesday 7 pm at runkle-miller field.

Don’t miss this special event,  crossroad financial credit union always brings fun and smiles to the park----lots of stuff between innings fun for kids.  So come out and bring the young ones, lots of prizes and shenanigans.

Rockets roll through south bend with double dips sat and sun

See ya tues at the ballyard

Olivia, mitches sister would say r o c k e t s , rockets rockets are the best

Randy miller pg 14