Rockets roll to title (07/28/2008)

The way the Rockets have been playing, the only real surprise of the weekend was that they actually gave up a run.

Portland continued its torrid streak as it hosted the Midwest Prospects Baseball League North Division Tournament Saturday. The home team pushed its winning streak to 15 games with victories of 8-0 over the Lima Buckeyes and 13-1 over the Geneva Cardinals as it took the tournament title.

The Rockets (30-6) left no question about the results of the title game - their fifth victory this season over Geneva.

Heath Williams, a Jay County High School graduate, led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left-center field. He moved to third on an Ian Sanders single, and Sanders advanced to second when the throw from the outfield went to home plate.

Aaron Pfeffenberger put Portland on the board with a single to right field. After Todd Graves got to first base on an error, Cory Walradth brought Sanders home with a sacrifice fly.

Pfeffenberger put the Rockets up 3-0 when he scored on a wild pitch.

The top of the second inning saw Travis Case of Geneva blast a solo home run, but it ended up being the only run scored against Portland in the tournament.

Justin Branock opened the second inning for the Rockets with a walk, and Ryan Shell reached base on an error. That set the stage for Williams, who continued his 3-for-3 day with an RBI single to left field.

Sanders brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Williams scored on a passed ball. After Pfeffenberger drew a walk, Graves hit his second home run of the tournament and Geneva never got back into the game.

Garrett Wiejak got the win in the title game, allowing the one Cardinal run on three hits while striking out six. Josh Shatto (JCHS) struck out two batters in a one-two-three seventh inning.

The semifinal victory for the Rockets over the Lima Buckeyes was all about Mitch Waters (JCHS), who tossed his second consecutive shutout. After shutting down Shady Nook Tuesday, he needed just 76 pitches to blank Lima on only two hits.

The victory was his 13th of the year, setting a new Portland Rockets record.

Williams, Pfeffenberger, Walradth and Jake Carr each had two hits in the victory. Graves, who homered against Lima, and Williams were named co-MVPs of the tournament.

Portland will play a double-header Wednesday night in Fort Wayne before returning home Saturday to start a three-game series against the winner of the MPBL South Division Tournament to determine the overall league champion.[[In-content Ad]]