Rockets fall in semis

FORT WAYNE — The Rockets’ season ended one weekend sooner than they hoped.
After reaching the semifinals of the National Amateur Baseball Federation regional tournament in thanks to a tiebreaker, the Portland Rockets fell 7-1 to the Berea Blue Sox on Friday night at Carrington Field.
The red-hot Blue Sox (32-5) eventually lost the title game to the Fort Wayne Jackers, who advance to the NABF World Series in Battle Creek.
Portland managed only five hits off Berea starter Jeff Salay, who fanned 13 Rockets on the day. Geoff Bowers led the Rockets with two hits.
Rocket starter Matt Helm took the loss, giving up three runs while lasting only three innings.
Tyler Reynolds allowed two runs and struck out six in four innings of relief, and Travis Gray pitched two scoreless innings.
Dalton Tinsley finished the tournament with a .423 batting average (11-for-26), including two triples. Billy Geeslin and Bowers followed with six hits apiece.
After starting its season 7-7, Portland went 17-9 the rest of the way to finish with a 27-16 record. The Rockets won 10 straight games from July 13 through 26, winning the Fort?Wayne League title in the process.