Rockets get revenge

It was a different story Wednesday night when the Shady Nook Jackers came to Portland.
After beating the Rockets (20-9) twice in tournament play in Fort Wayne over the weekend, the Rockets got revenge with a 3-1 victory on the back of Ball State hurler Devin Wilburn.
“It was a revenge match and we played it pretty close to the vest,” said Portland manager Randy Miller. “(Wilburn) was the man on the hill tonight. He was dominant and he can do that for us.”
Wilburn went eight innings, striking out eight while giving up four hits and two walks. The only miscue on the night for Wilburn was his throwing error to first that led to the lone run for Shady Nook (14-6).
“I felt pretty good, it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve thrown,” Wilburn said. “Been down with some poison ivy for a while so I wasn’t sure how I was going to be when I got out there, but after I got going I was pretty good.”
When Wilburn did get into tight spots, the defense rose to work out of trouble. Shortstop Brady Roundtree and second basemen Heath Williams worked to turn three double plays in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings.
“We have a great defense, I know that,” Wilburn said. “Any time we have a ground ball up the middle, I expect they’ll turn it just because they’re that good. Our guys up the middle are quick, they’re just solid.”
“Our shortstop’s about as good as you’ll find at our level … he’s got some glue to our defense and Heath is slick at second,” Miller said of his middle infielders. “Infield defense is where it starts and these guys are running it down good in the outfield.
See Revenge page 11
“Pitchers like to pitch when they’ve got that kind of backing,” Miller said.
After a somewhat quiet night at the plate Tuesday, the Rockets strung together eight hits Wednesday, led by Ben Smith — who homered Tuesday night — with two singles and two RBIs.
“We’d like to see a little bit more firepower offensively, but Ben Smith hits the ball hard every time out and he got two RBIs tonight and a pretty big fly last night,” Miller said. “Those guys are going to be productive.”
The Rockets piled on all of their runs in the third. Brad Kindred led off with a walk and Roundtree singled behind him. They both advanced on a double steal when Smith dropped a looping single into the outfield to drive in two. Smith stole second before Nate Clem singled him in as well.
Portland had another opportunity in the sixth, but Smith was easily tagged out at home trying to score from second on a Cody Campbell single.
Tyler Holloway closed out the game for the Rockets and ended it by turning two on a grounder back to the mound.
Catcher Chandler Sidwell was back in action for the Rockets after being out with injury and Cody Campbell batted in the DH slot after battling a bruised hand.
“That’s a good team win and we’ll take it and a little revenge for our last weekend against those guys,” Miller said.





It was a revenge match and we played it pretty close to the vest
He was the man on the hill tonight, he was dominant, and he can do that for us
We’d like to see a little bit more firepower offensively, but ben smith hits the ball hard every time out and he got two RBIs tonight and a pretty big fly last night, those guys are going to be productive
How many double plays tonight – our shortstop’s about as good as you’ll find at our level … he’s got some glue to our defense and heath is pretty slick at second
Infield defense is where it starts and these guys are running it down good in the outfield. Pitchers like to pitch when they’ve got that kind of backing
Sidwell back in the lineup after injury
That’s a good team win and we’ll take it and a little revenge for our last weekend against those guys
These guys have 20 wins under their belt

I felt pretty good, it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve thrown, and down with some poison ivy for a while so I wasn’t sure how I was going to be when I got out there but after I got going I was pretty good
We have a great defense I know that, any time we have a ground ball up the middle, I expect they’ll turn it
Just because they’re that good
Our guys up the middle are quick, they’re just solid[[In-content Ad]]