Rockets win Firecracker Classic

FORT WAYNE — One of last times the Rockets won the Firecracker Classic, it was the same year as their only berth in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series.
Four years later, the Rockets are rulers of Fort Wayne yet again.
The Portland Rockets capped off a fine offensive weekend Monday by winning the Firecracker Classic at Carrington Field.
Portland, which improves to 15-5 on the season and hosts its second-to-last regular-season game at 7 p.m. Wednesday, avenged a 4-2 loss Sunday night to the Fort Wayne Jackers by defeating the host team 6-3 in the tournament championship on Monday.
It is the first time since 2013 the Rockets have won the Firecracker Classic.
Mitch Waters, a 2002 Jay County High School graduate, made his first start of the season on the bump on Saturday, pitching the Rockets to a 11-6 victory over the Mishawaka Brewers to open tournament play. Portland then played three games on Sunday, winning the first two — 10-2 against the Jackers and 9-0 over the South Bend Cardinals — before falling to the Jackers later in the evening. Dan Bollenbacher, a South Adams product, and Craig Martin earned the wins on the bump respectively. Martin tossed a gem, only allowing one hit.
Andrew Bobeck shouldered the loss against the Jackers, and Coldwater native Derek Thobe earned the win in the championship.
Yorktown native Zach Tanner was named tournament MVP for his offensive efforts. He blasted three home runs — he has seven on the season — and finished with 11 hits. Bill Geeslin tallied eight hits for the tournament, and Kevin Sharpe registered seven hits as the only Rocket player to record a hit in all five games.
Dalton Tinsley and 2014 SAHS graduate Collin Affolder both had six hits on the weekend.
Portland closes its regular season home schedule this week with games Wednesday and Friday. The Rockets host the Fort Wayne Panthers on Wednesday for Crossroads night before welcoming the Fort Wayne Jackers at 7 p.m. Friday at Runkle-Miller Field.