Rockets blast Sox

After getting an unexpected day off Saturday, the Portland Rockets were more than ready for the Fort Wayne Red Sox.
Portland pounded the Red Sox 13-0 and 11-1 — both in five innings — Sunday to clinch the Heartland League’s Western Division Championship. The team had picked up two forfeit wins Saturday over the Indiana Breakers.
The Rockets (24-9, 13-4 HL), who have won six straight, got seven strikeouts in four innings from Eric Van Matre in the opening game. Craig Martin tossed a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.
South Adams High School graduate Dan Bollenbacher added three no-hit innings in game two, and Eathan Daggett and Tyler Reynolds finished off the final two frames.
Ben Smith hit his sixth home run of the season in the opener, in which the Rockets scored six times in the first inning, and Brady Roundtree, Nate Clem, Geoff Bowers and Chris Miller each had two hits in the second game.

Nichols wins again
MONTPELIER — Travis Nichols continued his hot streak Saturday.
The Portland resident picked up another victory in the Thunder Cars A Main race at Montpelier Motor Speedway. It was his third win in the last five weeks, vaulting him to second in the point standings behind Jason Shrout of Marion.
Steve Mills, Portland, who sits third in overall points, finished fourth in the Thunder Cars event. Shawn Wible of Bryant finished in eighth place, one spot ahead of Portland’s Brian Baldauf.
Fort Recovery’s Jamie Heiser placed fifth in the Super Streets A Main race. Jeff Baldauf and Richard Williams, both of Portland, were seventh and 13th respectively.

Elks, Kiwanis split
Portland Kiwanis ran wild in the opening game of a Portland Junior League Junior Rockets baseball doubleheader Friday, defeating Portland Elks 19-6. Elks bounced back to win the second game 9-6.
Brandon Ferner racked up four hits, including a two-run triple in the fifth inning, and also had four RBIs and a pair of runs to lead the Kiwanis victory. Michael Bruggeman added three hits, five runs and two RBIs.
Richie Keen totaled two hits, including a two-run double in the fifth inning, in the win for Elks. Lucas Hendee had two hits and two runs.[[In-content Ad]]