Undefeated no more (06/21/08)

The Warhawks were undefeated. And then they made a trip to Portland.

The home standing Rockets handed the Ohio Warhawks their first loss of the season, holding for a 6-5 victory.

The Warhawks, who sport 10 players who were selected in the Major League Baseball draft, were 16-0. The win was the seventh straight for Portland, which has run its record to 10-4.

Ohio seemed ready to storm past the Rockets after a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. And after Portland cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first, the Warhawks got a leadoff double to start the second and pushed to a 3-1 lead.

The visitors stayed on top until the fifth inning, when the Rockets, who were led by Jay County High School graduate Heath Williams' 3-for-4, two-run, two-steal effort, plated three runs to take the lead. They added another tally in the sixth to go up 6-4, and stayed on top as Mitch Waters (JCHS) recorded four consecutive scoreless frames.

The Warhawks got one run home in the top of the ninth inning, but then stumbled, literally. An Ohio runner slipped between second and third bases as he tried to stretch a double into a triple, got into a rundown and was eventually tagged for the final out of the game.

Waters went the first eight innings, striking out five as he settled down after the rough start. Corey Murray tossed the ninth to earn the save.

Following Williams for the Portland offense was Waters with two hits and a run. Ryan Shell singled and scored a run, and Chad Geier had a double.

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