Portland misses tourney title

FORT WAYNE — The Rockets weren’t able to defend their title in Fort Wayne’s Firecracker Classic.
Portland advanced to the semifinals of the tournament, but Brian Hakes launched a three-run home run Sunday to give the Fort Wayne Jackers a 9-3 win and send the Rockets packing.
The Rockets (14-9) won their opening game of the tournament Friday night, rallying from a 5-0 deficit to beat the South Bend Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings. Dalton Tinsley, who had five hits on the weekend for Portland, rifled a pitch off the fence for the walk-off winner.
Mitch Waters, a Jay County High School graduate, picked up the win in relief.
South Adams product Dan Bollenbacher scattered four hits and struck out four Saturday in a 2-0 loss to the eventual tournament champion Fort Wayne Expos.
Portland turned around and thrashed the Expos 10-0 in the nightcap thanks to Tyler Reynolds and Tinsley. Reynolds struck out a half dozen and only allowed three hits in the win, and Tinsley went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Geoff Bowers led Portland with six hits and four runs. Billy Geeslin and Thomas McCowan both tallied five hits.
Collin Affolder, a 2014 SAHS graduate, and Waters both recorded two hits.
Portland returns home at 7 p.m. Tuesday as it plays host to the Twin City Bankers.[[In-content Ad]]