Smith HRs lead Rockets

The Twisters grabbed the early lead Thursday. Then they made the mistake of pitching to Ben Smith.
The Portland Rockets’ center fielder blasted home runs in each of his first two at bats Thursday, leading his team to an 11-1 victory over its Van Wert visitors in the opening round of the Heartland League playoffs.
After Beau and John Kobee doubled and singled respectively in the top of the first inning to give the Twisters the lead, Smith immediately tied the game in the bottom of the frame. He clobbered a three-run home run to right field after Heath Williams, a Jay County High School graduate, and Brady Roundtree led off the third with back-to-back singles.
The Rockets scored six times in the third, also getting a two-run double from Dalton Tinsely. Cody Campbell ended the game with a two-run single in the fifth.
Craig Martin allowed one run on five hits for the win.[[In-content Ad]]