July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Rockets finish year in NABF regional final (08/15/05)
Portland Rockets
FORT WAYNE — Portland made its deepest tournament run ever, but fell one victory short of the world series.
The Rockets got all the way to the National Amateur Baseball Federation regional championship game Sunday before falling to defending champion LaMargarita Blues 7-1. It marked only the second time in team history — 1998 was the other — that the squad had made it to the regional finale.
Portland, which finished its second longest season ever at 35-18-1, simply ran out of gas in the finals after needing a pair of extra-inning victories to get there.
Jimmy Linder went the distance on two days rest to take the loss as the Rockets garnered just two hits. Adam Childs hit a home run for the lone Portland run, and Luke Jones added a double.
After splitting the first two games of the tournament, the Rockets called on Bryan Rumple, a recruit from the Geneva Cardinals, in their first elimination game Friday. Rumple, who also pitched for the Grand Lake Mariners this season, came through in a big way with a complete-game seven hitter in a 5-1 win over the Pontiac Cobras.
Kris Steffen gave Rumple all the support he would need in the sweltering heat with a three-run home run.
The Rockets trailed Shady Nook in the final inning of their next elimination game, but got a home run from Kyle Dygert and an RBI hit from Brandon Cooley to drive in Luke Jones with the tying run.
Jay County graduate Pete Byrum, the iron man who tossed 12 innings in a game earlier this year, took the mound for the final three innings and kept Shady Nook off the scoreboard long enough for Portland to grab the lead in the ninth.
After the Shady Nook catcher dropped a Pete Milas pop-up in foul territory, the Rocket shortstop made him pay with a single back up the middle. He then drew an errant pick-off throw, which allowed him to advance all the way to third base.
Childs then delivered an RBI single past a drawn-in infield to put Portland on top.
Shady Nook finally had a chance against Byrum in the bottom of the ninth when it got a shot to center field with a runner on first. But, Childs bare-handed the ball off the fence and fired to cut-off man Milas, who gunned the ball home.
Cooley and the Shady Nook runner collided at the plate, but Cooley was able to hang onto the ball for the final out and a berth in the championship.[[In-content Ad]]
The Rockets got all the way to the National Amateur Baseball Federation regional championship game Sunday before falling to defending champion LaMargarita Blues 7-1. It marked only the second time in team history — 1998 was the other — that the squad had made it to the regional finale.
Portland, which finished its second longest season ever at 35-18-1, simply ran out of gas in the finals after needing a pair of extra-inning victories to get there.
Jimmy Linder went the distance on two days rest to take the loss as the Rockets garnered just two hits. Adam Childs hit a home run for the lone Portland run, and Luke Jones added a double.
After splitting the first two games of the tournament, the Rockets called on Bryan Rumple, a recruit from the Geneva Cardinals, in their first elimination game Friday. Rumple, who also pitched for the Grand Lake Mariners this season, came through in a big way with a complete-game seven hitter in a 5-1 win over the Pontiac Cobras.
Kris Steffen gave Rumple all the support he would need in the sweltering heat with a three-run home run.
The Rockets trailed Shady Nook in the final inning of their next elimination game, but got a home run from Kyle Dygert and an RBI hit from Brandon Cooley to drive in Luke Jones with the tying run.
Jay County graduate Pete Byrum, the iron man who tossed 12 innings in a game earlier this year, took the mound for the final three innings and kept Shady Nook off the scoreboard long enough for Portland to grab the lead in the ninth.
After the Shady Nook catcher dropped a Pete Milas pop-up in foul territory, the Rocket shortstop made him pay with a single back up the middle. He then drew an errant pick-off throw, which allowed him to advance all the way to third base.
Childs then delivered an RBI single past a drawn-in infield to put Portland on top.
Shady Nook finally had a chance against Byrum in the bottom of the ninth when it got a shot to center field with a runner on first. But, Childs bare-handed the ball off the fence and fired to cut-off man Milas, who gunned the ball home.
Cooley and the Shady Nook runner collided at the plate, but Cooley was able to hang onto the ball for the final out and a berth in the championship.[[In-content Ad]]
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