Rockets launch past Mudcats

CINCINNATI — Zach Tanner was his normal self.

His blast gave the Rockets an early lead.

Chris Miller joined in, and his round-tripper sealed the win.

Tanner and Miller both hit homers as the Portland Rockets opened the National Amateur Baseball Federation Mini-Regional with a commanding 10-0 victory over the Cincinnati Mudcats in five innings on Friday at Roselawn Park.

Portland (26-8) plays its second pool play contest at noon today against the St. John’s (Pittsburgh) Lefties. 

The tournament consists of two three-team pools, and the winner of each pool plays the runner-up of the other in the semifinal. Portland’s potential semifinal is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday, and the championship game is 11 a.m. Sunday.

After Tanner’s first-inning blast gave Portland a 2-0 lead, Dalton Tinsley added on two innings later as he scored from second on a passed ball. 

The Rockets, who have won 18 of their last 19 games, broke the game open in the fourth inning with four runs as Tristen Becker, Cody Krumlauf and Tinsley each had RBI singles. Portland was ahead 7-0 before Miller hit a walk-off three-run homer one frame later to earn the run-rule victory. Mitch Waters, a 2002 Jay County High School graduate, and Krumlauf both scored on the play.

Krumlauf led the Rockets with two hits on the day, while Brandon Reamon and Waters each collected singles.

Lefty Max Habegger needed just 62 pitches to carve up the Mudcats. He faced four over the minimum 15 batters, allowing two walks and a pair of hits. He struck out two in his Rocket tournament debut.

Coldwater native Derek Thobe is the projected starter against St. John’s, and South Adams High School product Dan Bollenbacher will toe the rubber for the semifinal.

The winner of the mini-regional tournament earns a berth in the NABF World Series Aug. 10 through 13 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Should Portland come short of the mini-regional championship, the Rockets will travel to Fort Wayne Aug. 3 through 6 for the NABF regional.