Rockets lose doubleheaders -- Saturday to Taylor University 2-1 and 4-1 and Sunday lose to Fort Wayne Shady Nook, 4-0 and 16-9.

The Portland Rockets returned to action this weekend after a long week of no action. Games cancelled Wednesday and Thursday,  left the boys a bit rusty..  After winning 6 of the last 7, the Rockets were beaten twice at Taylor University Saturday and twice at Fort Wayne on Sunday.  On Saturday, Dan Bollenbacher took a no-hitter into the last inning but our 1-0 lead was not enough...(kind of sounds like that Reds pitcher, Travis Wood).  Two hits and a walk and we were walking off the field stunned, defeated 2 –1.   Justin Marrero had 2 hits and so did John Clawson.   Game 2 was another solid outing. Bill Geeslin and Derek Mounsey were our pitchers, but our hitters only had one hit as we lost 4-1.

On Sunday,  the week lay-off brought us back to Fort Wayne, where just last week we beat Shady Nook in the Carrington Field Firecracker Classic for the championship.  We had an army of Portland fans on hand, including the Maloys, to support the troops. However, Sunday this week had a different ending. with the Nooksters 4-1 in game one and Nooksters 16-9 in game 2.  Rocket lefthander, Will Walters, went the distance giving up 2 hits, but 7 walks.  The offense still sputtered, just 2 hits this game, both by Chris Tillery.

During Game 2,  the offense broke out with 7 runs in the 3^rd inning to take a 7 –4 lead.  But it was 11-9 in the 6^th and finished 16-9. Bryant Cook and Bryce Cook took the brunt of the blows in relief of Justin Scott, new rocket pitcher from Manchester College.  Thomas McCowan came on to end the Shady Nook five run 6^th inning.  Marrero, the slick-fielding shortstop,  had 2 hits, so did Bryan Brudi, Tom McCowan and catcher,  John Clawson (caught both games Sunday). I bet he slept good last night!

Again, after winning 6 of last 7, Rockets lose 4 this weekend.  We picked up some help in the bullpen in the right-hand slants of Justin Scott and Tom McCowan.

Rockets record moves to 10-14 this weekend...kind of like the fortunes of the Cincinnati Reds.

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This week the Rockets travel Tuesday to Indiana Wesleyan at 7 pm, then are home on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday is Crossroads night and we are looking forward to seeing our new backstop.