Byrum is an 'Iron Man' (06/13/05)

Pete Byrum should have just built a house on the mound. He was there long enough to make it his home address.

Byrum, a Jay County graduate, went the distance Saturday as the Portland Rockets won a 3-2, 12-inning thriller over the South Bend Senators.

The game was tied at one before South Bend grabbed the lead with a run against Byrum in the top of the 12th. But Portland would not let its pitcher fall.

Fellow JCHS grad Mitch Waters singled in the bottom of the 12th and Matt Steinke was hit by a pitch. Luther Selby followed with a single to bring in Waters with the tying run.

Then Byrum helped his own cause with a single to send Steinke to third base. Lenny Koesters finished off the rally and gave Byrum the win as he brought Steinke to the plate with a sacrifice fly.

Byrum got the victory as he tossed 10 consecutive scoreless innings. He allowed a home run in the first inning and then blanked the Senators until the 12th.

Selby finished with three hits to lead the Rocket offense, and former Patriots Waters and Sean Landess each had two hits.

The Rockets (11-5) also played Sunday in Celina, Ohio, splitting a pair of games against the Grand Lake Mariners. They lost the first game 10-0, but took the second 6-1.

Jimmy Linder tossed all seven innings of the victory, allowing just three hits. He struck out seven batters.

Kyle Dygert and Luke Jones each had a pair of hits.

South Adams graduate Matt Ousley suffered the game-one defeat.[[In-content Ad]]