Rockets win three

The Portland Rockets started strong before closing their six games in four days stretch with a pair of losses Sunday.
After beating Decatur Thursday, Portland topped the Van Wert Twisters 13-5 Saturday and the Napolean Riverbandits 1-0 and 4-1 Saturday. But they stumbled to 5-3, and 2-1 loss Sunday to the Warsaw Indians.
Eric Van Matre tossed a three-hit shutout while striking out six batters in Saturday’s opening win. Tyler Holloway went six innings in game two before turning the ball over to Trevor Kill for the save.
In Friday’s victory, Brady Roundtree had four hits and Rocket newcomer Cody Campbell (Ball State University) added three as Portland (14-7, 9-4 Heartland League) scored seven times in its final at bat to pull away.
Tyler Reynolds and Craig Martin suffered the losses Sunday to Warsaw. Ben Smith hit his fourth home run of the season in the opening game.

Nichols wins
MONTPELIER — For the second time in three weeks, Travis Nichols walked away with the checkered flag.
Nichols, of Portland, drove to victory Saturday in the 20-lap Thunder Cars A Main race at Montpelier Motor Speedway. He also won the Thunder Cars event on June 11.
Richard Williams, Portland, was the top local finisher in the Super Streets A Main race in fifth place. Jamie Heiser of Fort Recovery was sixth, and Portland’s Jeff Baldauf placed eighth.
Steve Mills, Portland, was eighth behind Nichols in the Thunder Cars event.

Lennartz leads
Britney Mullins had a big day as the Portland Junior League Rookie softball and baseball regular seasons came to a close with four games Saturday.
Mullins got started with two hits, a run and six RBIs in a 12-1 victory for Persimmon Ridge over Loy Real Estate and Auction in Rookie softball. She added two hits, two runs and four RBIs in her team’s other win — by a 12-5 score over Portland Optimist.
R.J. Lennartz notched two doubles, a single, three runs and four RBIs in All Circuit Electrical’s 19-10 win over Williams Auto Parts in Rookie baseball. Sam Myers totaled three hits, three runs and an RBI as Ponderosa topped Pak-A-Sak 9-6.
On Friday, Riley Brewster racked up four hits, six RBIs and a pair of runs in Loy’s 18-8 win over Optimist, Tricia Ison had three doubles, a single, four runs and three RBIs to pace an 18-13 victory for First Merchants Bank against Persimmon Ridge.

Stotler scores four
Alizabeth Stotler was the top scorer Saturday in the West Jay Community Center’s Summer Soccer League.
Stotler scored all but one of her team’s goals as the Squidz defeated the Sting Rays 4-1. Lilly Rogers and Logan Orso each had three goals in the Whales’ 9-1 victory over the Sharks, and Zaaron Lee scored three times in the Lions’ 3-3 tie with the Cheetahs.
Tallying two goals Saturday were Sophie Fugiett and Daniel Fugiett.[[In-content Ad]]