June 16, 2014 rockets split weekend games vs. northeast kekionga, jackers

Rocket notes:  start weekend with an exciting victory 3-2 over northeast kekionga

Indiana tech college club, a strikeout by craig martin of marion with the bases loaded,

Then finish the weekend with a strikeout with 2 on to preserve a 2-0 2 hit shutout win

Over the ft wayne jackers, with 2 men on base. This clutch punchout from big dan

Bollenbacher of berne,  he struck out 9 and threw a 73 pitch gem, one of the best games

Pitched I have ever seen.  He flat out dominated.

Dan in his 7^th rocket season, retired 13 of the first 15 batters, and did his job in one hr. and 30 min. 

As I told his mom and dad, happy fathers day , I think I just  adopted your son

Before the game I had told scott bollenbacher , who like dan, rode his motorcycle to the game---be prepared to watch a workhorse take on the load,,and we will ride that horse to the finish. And we enjoyed the journey.

My other adopted son, mitch waters, 8 rocket year veteran, scored in the 1^st inn. On cody

Krumlaufs groundout, and rockets tacked on a run in the last inn. Singles by krumlauf, alex delk, and then a clutch rbi bingo by colin affolder finished the scoring

Rockets win a big one 2-0

Jackers had one big threat with 2 on and no out , in the 5^th, we needed a big break,

Coach doug tinsley said we need a 5-3 double play,

Next pitch ground ball to billy at 3^rd, steps on bag, bowers scoops the low throw at 1^st, 5-3 dp.  As mel allen would say, how about that.

Saturday was persimmons ridge day,  lots of smile , the group had rocket hats from patriot sportswear, the group included my old buddy Gerald Kunce who helped in the

Making of sportland.

Tyler Reynolds the winner with a 6 hitter  Portland 3 kekionga 2  coach kip mcwilliams of tech on hand .

Billy geeslin and geoff bowers scored in the 6^th inn. As the rockets held on, bases loaded

Martin on for the punchout.

Game 2 went crazy, travis gray took the loss, beat 15-10 .  they went up 5-0 and we came back and tied it 5-5. but rocket pitching just wore down.  Martin, delk, affolder and gary Williams all pitched.

Highlight of the day,  a visit from rocket standout ss Jason murray of bluffton. Jason was an all mac player from ball state and one of our stable of ss from the 90s. he is now a coach for liberty university,  his message to the team was touching.

His start, was in Portland, to ray miller and Portland he learned commitment and to love your brothers, and to appreciate.

Another highlight,  billy geeslin hit his 1^st home run of the season.

Rockets the splitsers, lost game one Sunday 4-1 to garrett wiejak and the jackers. The rockets had 11 hits, but they had 12,  mitch waters took the loss. Connor milligan also pitched.  They had ohhhhh so many hits with 2 strikes.

Rockets 1^st baseman Thomas mccowan of Dunkirk, took a hard groundball of the chin, and had to leave the game for 2 stitches.  Tom did get the out, and to his credit did not want to come out, but was bleeding like a stuck pig, sherri Reynolds attending thought best to doctor up.

On the weekend, geeslin had 6 hits, 5 each by Dalton tinsley and alex delk

Rockets travel to Indiana tech wed 7 pm. Start. Home sat.

Record 6-6 jackers record 10-2

Time of dh sat.  4hr 59 min , sun. 3 hr. 49 min. 

Difference,  pitching and umpiring

Wed starter Justin miller or craig martin.