Rockets roll to 2-0

The offense is still working into form. But the pitching is already on point.

The Portland Rockets got another excellent team pitching effort Thursday on the way to a 5-2 victory over the Van Wert American Legion at Runkle-Miller Field at Portland Memorial Park.

Eric Van Matre got the start and silenced the Van Wert bats while the Rockets built a 4-0 lead. He tossed four innings, striking out eight batters while allowing just a single hit.

South Adams High School graduate Daniel Bollenbacher, Tyler Mills, Jensen Painter and Jeremy Swearigen tossed the remaining five innings. They allowed five hits, but both runs against them were unearned.

Heath Williams (Jay County - 2004) was key to all three innings in which Portland put up runs.

The Manchester graduate led off the third inning with a single to right field and then stole second base. He advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Painter, luring the third baseman to attempt to tag him and allowing Painter to reach first base safely.

Riley Muhlenkamp drove in Williams with a single to right field, and Geoff Bowers loaded the bases with another single to right. Painter put the Rockets up 2-0 when Brandon Van Matre reached base on an error.

Williams struck out to start the fourth inning, but hustled down the line to reach safely after the ball got past the Van Wert catcher. Portland then executed a perfect hit-and-run, with Williams drawing the shortstop toward second base and Cameron Branock slapping a single through the resulting gap in the left side of the infield. Williams went all the way to third on the single, and then scored on a wild pitch.

Bowers added a two-out, RBI-single to left in the inning to score Branock.

Williams also scored for the Rockets in the fifth inning as he finished with two hits and three runs.

Bowers had two hits and two RBIs, and Branock finished with two hits and one RBI.

Portland had runners on base in every inning as it finished with eight hits and 12 walks.[[In-content Ad]]