Red-hot arms power Rockets (06/12/06)

Outstanding pitching carried the Portland Rockets Sunday in a double-header sweep.

Portland pitchers combined to allow just a single run in 14 innings, defeating the Franklin Cougars 2-1 and 5-0.

Eric Van Matre started the day on the hill, tossing six scoreless innings. He struck out 10 batters and allowed seven hits in the win.

Jay County High School graduate Mitch Waters gave up one run in earning the game-one save.

The Rockets (5-2, 3-0 Midwest Prospects League) got all the runs they needed after JCHS grad Heath Williams reached base on an error in the first inning. Derek Lehrman drove him in with a double to left-center field, and Waters followed with an RBI single.

Jimmy Linder tossed for the first time this season to open the second game, allowing only two hits in three scoreless innings. Another JCHS grad, Josh Jellison, finished the game by giving up just two hits in four scoreless frames.

Waters, Lehrman, Phil Bruns and Matt Steinke each had two hits as Portland dropped the Cougars to 1-5.[[In-content Ad]]