Posted Jun 1/10 - Rockets win 2 games over Napoleon to start the season...I guess he met his Waterloo!
Good Morning Baseball Fans, It's a beautiful day in Portland and a Happy June 1 to everyone. Portland Rockets Baseball is underway in a winning way. Opening Day had the Rockets vs. Napoleon Riverbandits at the University of Miami in Oxford, OH. Rockets used 9 pitchers and swept the doubleheader 9-8 (1st game -8 innings) and 11-3 in the second game. In game one, the Rockets scored 5 runs in the 1st inning, cruised behind ace started, Eric Vinometer, who clocked in his Rocket debut at 86 mph, and cruised behind Tyler Mills and Tyler Palmer (both from Huntington University), and we led 6-2 in the 8th. Dan Bollenbacher of Berne, had a rocky 8th as the Bandits tied the score. Thanks to a gutsy dive at home plate, retrieving the ball that bounced in the dirt, catcher Justin Bannock picked up the carom and made a bare hand tag on a sliding runner with the potential winning run...it was all tied up in the 8th. Heath Williams (6 year Rocket veteran and the straw that stirs the drink), walked, stole second and then singles in Riley Muhlenkamp, Justin Brannock and then a timely 2 out double by Michael Ingram (CF from Southern Illinois) plated 2. Bill Geeslin from Coldwater OH came in from SS to the mound and held off the home team and Portland won 9-8. In the second game, Michael Ingram from Centerville IN is a CF burner; i.e. he covers a lot of ground and his 2 hits and 4 RBI's led the offense. Trevor Kill from St. Marys OH, Derek Mounsey from DePauw University, and Tyler Palmer shut down the Bandits 11-3 on 5 hits in the second game. Kill, who played ball in Kansas this Spring, gave up no hits through 3 frames but after 2 aboard in the 4th, Mounsey killed the Bandit rally. Using the wood bats became easier as we scored 4 in the 5th and 5 in the 6th for the win. The key hit/highlight was a 3-bag blast by Bubba VanMatre (probably the only triple he has ever clubbed, and this first baseman is not a fast man but a good man). Justin Brannock had 3 RBI's and Billy Geeslin had 2 hits in game 2. The Rockets head to Richmond tonight (Tuesday June 1) for a 7 pm night game at McBride Stadium with the RiverRats. First home game is Monday June 7 at 7 pm with the Napoleon RiverBandits and Dan Bollenbacher will be on the hill. Randy Miller pg 14