Rockets go 1-2 in tourney

A 12-game winning streak had the Portland Rockets rolling into the inaugural World Baseball Congress tournament. Back-to-back losses for the first time in more than a month halted their chance at the title.

After winning their tournament opener 10-2 in six innings over the Illinois Jayhawks Friday night, the Rockets fell 9-3 to the Cleveland Titans and 6-5 to Logo This.

Despite the loss to Portland in pool play, the Jayhawks went on to win the tournament championship game 12-6 over the Putnam County Dirtbags.

The Rockets earned their 13th straight win Friday over Illinois thanks to a six-run sixth inning. Three of the runs came on a bases-loaded double by Jensen Painter.

Jay County High School graduate Heath Williams, who led off the game with a bunt single, finished with three hits. Cameron Branock and Chris Gottschall each added two.

Bill Geeslin came up big in relief of Painter on the mound, retiring eight of the nine batters he faced. He finished with five strikeouts.

The winning streak ran out Saturday when the Titans used a five-run seventh inning to top Portland 9-3. Painter finished with two hits, including a home run, in the defeat.

The Rockets' season ended against Logo This, which they had split a four-game regular-season series and shared the Heartland Baseball League title. They had a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning before the team of Taylor University players rallied to win in extras.

Geeslin, Josh Atkinson (JCHS) and South Adams High School graduate Dan Bollenbacher all pitched in the defeat.[[In-content Ad]]