Rockets shut out FW

The Rockets couldn’t muster much offense in the opening inning. But thanks to Dan Bollenbacher and some solid defense, they had enough.
Portland scored one run in each of the first two innings Friday, and Bollenbacher made them stand up for a 2-0 victory over the Fort Wayne Jackers in the opening game of the World Baseball Congress tournament.
Dalton Tinsley singled to open the bottom of the first inning, and after a Brandon Reamon strikeout Collin Affolder came through. The 2014 South Adams High School graduate ripped a double to drive in Tinsley and give the Rockets the only run they would need.
Portland took a 2-0 lead when first baseman Chris Miller crushed a home run.
Bollenbacher (South Adams) tossed seven scoreless innings of baseball for the Rockets (17-5), who play again in the round-robin portion of the tournament at noon today.
After retiring the side in order in each of the first two innings, the Jackers put runners in scoring position in three of the next four. But Bollenbacher eliminated the threat each time.
Fort Wayne had the bases loaded twice, only to have Bollenbacher induce a fly ball to center field to end the fifth inning and a grounder to Miller at first base to finish the sixth. He sat down the Jackers in order in the top of the seventh inning to finish off the victory, in which he struck out two while allowing five hits.
Mitch Waters, a 2002 Jay County High School graduate, and Affolder each had a pair of hits for the Rockets.