On to the World Series

The Rockets are going back to the World Series.

The Portland Rockets beat the Livonia Firebirds on Friday 12-3 and 4-3 on Saturday to clinch the NABF Regional title and earn a spot in the World Series for the first time in eight years.

In Friday’s victory, the Rockets scored a pair of runs in the second inning on a double by Noah McEldowney, but Dylan Brammer gave up three runs in the third frame.

Portland trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but got a pair of runners on base on a dropped third strike and a single. Joel Kennedy played the hero by blasting a home run to deep left field to put the Rockets up 5-3. Seven more runs came in on a single by Cameron Pratt, a Quinn Faulkner groundout, Evan Pearce’s single, a passed ball and a second Kennedy homer. In total, Kennedy had five RBIs on four hits.

Brammer earned the win with a complete game. He allowed seven hits but didn’t give up a walk while striking out eight batters.

Portland again got on the board early in Saturday’s championship game as Joel Kennedy smashed a double to right-center field that scored Corban White in the bottom of the first. Kenney Bailey hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning to go up 2-0.

Garrison Brege surrendered three runs in the fourth inning, but a McEldowney double reclaimed the lead for the Rockets.

Brege earned the win after giving up three runs on seven hits and five walks over five innings. Jayden Simpson picked up the save after tossing the final two innings with no runs scored.

This will be the Rockets’ third appearance in the NABF World Series. Previously, they went to Buffalo, New York in 2012, and again in Battle Creek, Michigan in 2017.

The Rockets will play in two round robin games on Thursday and one on Friday to determine if they move on to elimination play over the weekend. On Thursday, they will face the Hackensack Troasts at 11 a.m. before taking on the Berea Blue Sox at 4 p.m., both at Zimmerman Field. Portland finishes on Friday with a game against the Lombard Orioles at 6:30 p.m. at Lee Pfund Stadium. Only the top two teams from pool play will advance.

Fans that can’t make the trip to Naperville can follow the Rockets on the GameChanger app.