Waters leads Rockets (08/04/2008)

Mitch Waters got the win in the first game of the weekend series. So when the Rockets needed to hold on to a lead, they want back to him for the save.

Waters pitched Portland out of a two-on, no-out jam in the seventh inning of the third and deciding game Sunday for a 5-3 victory over the Midwest Tomahawks and the MPBL title.

The Rockets (33-8) were up 4-0 after the first two innings Sunday, but the offense stalled and the lead was just 5-3 to start the final frame. Travis Redman and Daniel Pugh gave Midwest a chance as they started the top of the seventh with a walk and a single to center field respectively off South Adams High School graduate Daniel Bollenbacher.

That's when manager Randy Miller turned back to Waters, who earned the win in Saturday's series opener to push his record to 14-0 this year. The 2002 JCHS graduate immediately delivered, getting Tomahawk clean-up hitter Dan Collier to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

Midwest still had the tying run at the plate with Redman on third, but Waters struck out Chad Bruce looking to end the game.

The Rockets got all the offense they needed in the opening two innings after Heath Williams (JCHS) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field. Ryan Shell and Aaron Pfeffenberger followed with back-to-back 0-2 hits, Shell with a single to left field and Pfeffenberger with a two-run double to right-center.

A Cameron Branock walk followed by a Jake Carr single and a walk for Ian Sanders quickly loaded the bases for Portland to start the second inning. Williams then delivered an RBI single to center field, and Shell drove in Carr with the third walk of the inning to make it 4-0.

The score stayed the same until the Tomahawks tagged reliever Josh Shatto (JCHS) - starter Corey Murray left the game after five shutout innings - for three runs in the sixth inning. The rally came with the help of two hit batsmen, a bunt single, a walk and an error.

However, Bollenbacher was able to come in get out of the jam with the lead in tact before getting in trouble himself to start the seventh inning and turning the ball over the Waters to finish the game. Murray allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three to pick up the win.

Williams finished 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI, Shell was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI and Pfeffenberger doubled to drive in a pair of runs.

The series started Saturday with Waters going the distance and allowing just one run on two hits. He struck out four batters, and the game ended on a Williams to Sanders to Adam Graves double play.

Cory Locke's double in the fourth inning drove in the Rockets' first run, and Williams plated the game-winner with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Locke, Waters and Shell each had a pair of hits.

In Saturday's second game Portland scored the first run, but the Tomahawks tied the game in the fifth inning and then got the big hit they needed in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Andrew Domino smacked an 0-2 double to right-center field to clear the bases.

Garrett Wiejak took the loss, giving up four runs while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.

The Rockets have more tournament action this week as they travel to Canton, Ohio, to begin the American Amateur Baseball Congress regional tournament Wednesday.

[[In-content Ad]]