Waters gets World Series win (08/16/2008)

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Portland Rockets may not have made it to the Stan Musial League World Series, but their top pitcher - Jay County High School graduate Mitch Waters - has helped one of the Rockets' rivals stay unbeaten so far in the tournament.

Waters, who was picked up by the Canton Stallions after the Rockets were eliminated from the AABC regional last weekend in Canton, Ohio, pitched seven strong innings Thursday and got credit for the victory as Canton won 7-4 over Bayamon Vaqueros.

Canton, which claimed the title in the regional it hosted to earn a spot in the World Series, will play series host N.W. Wildcats today at 8:30 p.m. in the championship game of the winner's bracket at Sam Houston State University.

The title games in the double-elimination tournament will be held Sunday and Monday (if necessary).

Waters, who has had several brief stints in professional baseball, has now won a total of 14 games this summer.

In Thursday's victory, Waters started and pitched seven innings, allowing four runs - only one of which was earned.

Waters allowed just the four hits over the seven innings, striking out three and walking four.

Bob Rose pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Canton to earn the save.

Bayamon took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Waters, but Canton regained the lead with a pair of runs in the second and another in the fourth. Bayamon went up 4-2 with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings before Canton put four on the board in the top of the eighth.[[In-content Ad]]