Rockets keep rolling

In its first 17 games, Portland was barely over .500, scratching its way to a 9-8 record. Since then, the team has been nearly unstoppable.

The Portland Rockets have gone 15-2 in their last 17 games, including wins of 6-3 and 11-5 Saturday over the Warsaw Indians and 6-1 and 2-0 Sunday against Crumback-Symons.

Jay County High School graduate Josh Ludy got the outstanding weekend started at Runkle-Miller Field at Portland Memorial Park as he put away his catcher's gear and took the mound. He turned in a complete-game win.

Ludy also led the Rockets at the plate, finishing the weekend with seven hits. They included a two-run blast to right-center field in the first inning of Sunday's opener against Crumback.

Game two against Warsaw was tied at 5 in the sixth inning before the Rockets pulled away to give Josh Shatto (JCHS) the win in relief.

Jensen Painter shut down Crumback in the first game Sunday to earn the win before giving way to Shatto for two more innings of scoreless relief. Shatto has picked up two wins and a save in his last three trips to the mound.

Portland beat Matt Bischoff (Purdue) in the final game of the weekend, scoring twice off the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year in the second inning. Both teams were limited to three hits, but Josh Atkinson (JCHS) and Nick Bruns combined on the shutout for the Rockets (24-10).

Following Ludy offensively for the weekend were Heath Williams (JCHS), Ryan Shell and Cameron Branock with five hits apiece. Painter added three doubles.[[In-content Ad]]