Ready to repeat

It took the Portland Rockets more than 50 years to make their first World Series appearance.
They have no intention of waiting that long again.
Portland, which will open its season on the road Sunday against the Richmond RiverRats, returns most of its roster from the 2012 squad that won the Cincinnati regional and competed in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
“On paper this looks like a juggernaut,” said Rockets manager Randy Miller. “Don’t let the coach get in the way and screw it up.”
The returning group includes at least three area players, with Mitch Waters and Dan Bollenbacher returning to lead the pitching staff.
Waters, a 2002 graduate of Jay County High School, is the veteran on a squad loaded with experience. The 29-year-old pitched for Ancilla College and Manchester College, had a couple of minor-league stops and also played professionally in Italy for several seasons.
“It starts with Mitch. He shows up. He plays hard,” Miller said. “He gives the footsteps for others to follow. …
“He’s just so good with the game and what it takes.”
Bollenbacher is a 2008 South Adams graduate who now coaches the Starfires’ junior varsity team. He earned the Rockets’ only victory in the World Series last season, striking out 10 batters in a complete game against a squad from Sparta, Mich.
 “He’s every bit the ace and workhorse as Mitch,” said Miller.
A second JCHS graduate, Thomas McCowan, rounds out the local core of the team as the projected starter at third base.
McCowan’s former Patriot teammate, Billy Wellman, could also return to the squad, but his status is still unknown as he finishes his college season with Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference Tournament this weekend.
Wellman was an All-MAC first-team selection at third base this year.
Also returning from last season’s team are catcher Chris Miller, who was the MVP of the 2012 World Baseball Congress Tournament in Portland, shortstop Zach Tanner, second baseman Justin Marrero, infielder Logan Hug and outfielders Dalton Tinsley, Justin Miller and Brice Davis.
Two players — outfielder Ben Smith and catcher Geoff Bowers — will come back to the Rockets after a year away from the team. Smith, a Marion Local High School graduate, hit .311 with three home runs and 29 RBIs for the University of Northwestern Ohio this season, and Miller believes he’s a five-tool player.
“I think he’s very draftable,” said Miller. “He is on scouts’ radar.
“He’s just a man. At times he’s a beast on the field … He’s just what you would call a franchise player.
“I think I broke down and cried when he called and told me he was going to be a Rocket this year. It was like a gift from the heavens.”
While Billy Geeslin will be unavailable to re-join Waters and Bollenbacher in the starting rotation this season after undergoing surgery, the team will get Michael Caley back to join Waters and Bollenbacher in the starting rotation. Also returning to the pitching staff will be Eathan Daggett, Tyler Reynolds and closer Travis Gray.
Among the newcomers expected to join the team are Ball State players Cody Campbell, Nick Hollowell and Brandon Estep along with pitcher Nick McCoy from Coastal Carolina.
The Rockets hope the strong veteran core with a bit of new talent mixed in will lead to a repeat of last season’s tournament success.
Portland was 19-6 a year ago before getting clobbered by the Ohio Warhawks in back-to-back games. Those losses served as a wake-up call.
The Rockets won four of their final five regular-season games and then took the title as they hosted the World Baseball Congress Tournament. They split their first two games at the NABF regional in Cincinnati before racking up three wins less than 18 hours to win the tournament and earn the first World Series berth in the team’s 53-year history.
Even with all of last season’s tournament success, Miller is trying to take the coming season one game at a time. His players, however, are looking toward the World Series, which will be played in Battle Creek, Mich.
“We’ve got guys talking about going back,” said Miller. “These guys are playing for August. It certainly is a different mindset.”[[In-content Ad]]