Rockets drop regional opener

KANKAKEE, Ill. — If the Rockets want to get back to the NABF World Series, they will have to play each game as if it could end their season.
With another loss, they’re done.
A throwing error led to a three-run seventh inning, and the Chicago Angels held off a comeback attempt as the Portland Rockets dropped their opening game of the NABF regional tournament to the Angels, 7-4.
The Rockets (19-7) begin play in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament at 6:30 p.m. today. Portland faces the defending regional champions and host team, the Beecher Muskies (28-9), who lost Thursday to the Chicago Thunder, 1-0.
“We think we are really good, but we have to play good to be good,” Portland manager Randy Miller said. “(It was) kind of disappointing, a 4-0 lead with (Dan Bollenbacher) on the mound in the third inning usually means we’re in cruise control.”
But the Rockets, whose last regional championship came in 2012, had things fall apart in the third as the Angels (8-21) touched up the South Adams High School product for three runs.
Bollenbacher, who scattered nine hits, struck out five and walked five in 6 2/3 innings for a no decision, kept the Angels at bay until the sixth. That’s when Chicago pushed across the tying run to chase him from the game.
In the top of the seventh, Billy Geeslin, on in relief, hit a batter to put the potential go-ahead run on first.
The next hitter bunted the ball back to the mound, and Geeslin’s throw to second sailed into the outfield.
Alex Delk replaced Geeslin, and struck out the first batter he faced before allowing an RBI single and a two-run double. Geeslin was charged with the loss.
“We just never found our rhythm all day,” said Miller, who admitted he and his team may have been looking forward to a potential third-round matchup with the Muskies. Now the two teams will square off in an elimination game.
“I paced (up and down the dugout) more than I have ever paced,” he said.
Early on, it seemed as if the Rockets were going to cruise to the second round, as they tallied three runs in the first inning and one in the second.
Brandon Reamon hit a triple and scored on a ground out by Justin Marrero. Then 2002 Jay County High School graduate Mitch Waters, tonight’s projected starter, hit a two-run double to put Portland up 3-0 in the first.
In the second, Dunkirk native Thomas McCowan crossed the plate to push the score to 4-0.
Dalton Tinsley was the only Portland player with multiple hits.
With the possibility of being knocked out of the tournament tonight, Miller said he is convinced the Rockets will play with purpose.
“I am confident we will play well,” he said. “We have to get back to playing Rocket baseball. Play tight to the vest, play it soundly (and) execute.
“If we play our style of game we can play with anybody.”