April 17, 2018 at 4:39 p.m.
Portland to host regional
NABF tourney is slated for July 27 through July 29
Portland to host regional
Copyright 2018, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
For decades, the Rockets had to take road trips to play in a regional tournament.
This summer, they’ll host the stepping stone to the world series.
The Portland Rockets and Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau jointly announced Thursday that Portland will play host to a National Amateur Baseball Federation mini-regional tournament in July.
“We’re so pleased to announce Portland has been named host of a national mini-regional NABF tournament right here at Runkle-Miller Field,” said Portland Rockets manager Randy Miller. “This tournament has implications to the path to the world series. The head office in Baltimore has deemed Portland a place to play baseball. We’re honored to get the site announced to be held here at Runkle-Miller Field.”
The tournament will be July 27 through 29.
The NABF, which enters its 105th season this year, sanctions mini-regional and regional tournaments with the winners earning a berth into the NABF World Series in Battle Creek, Michigan, from Aug. 9 through 12.
This year, however, Portland won’t have to travel for postseason play.
“In the past we’ve had the World Baseball Congress tournament, which is an invitational to prep up for the regionals that allow people to go to the world series,” Miller said. Portland also previously served as host of the American Amateur Baseball Congress state tournament. “This (mini-regional) is directly connected. This is a national tournament which we participated last year in Cincinnati Reds’ Urban Academy.”
The Cincinnati tournament featured teams from Berea, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and of course Portland.
Runkle-Miller Field’s regional will have a field of four to six teams.
“We’re always wanting to showcase our community and the history the Rockets have had,” said Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman. “Everybody knows Ray Miller when he was the Rockets coach and everybody knows Randy.
“We have something almost every place out in the Midwest doesn’t have. The support the Rockets have here community-wide is just fantastic.”
The Portland Rockets came up short in the mini-regional tournament last year in Cincinnati, but won the regional tournament in Fort Wayne to reach the world series for the second time in team history. The first was in 2012.
Portland opened pool play at the world series with consecutive victories, beating the Beecher Muskies 5-3 and the defending champion Brooklyn Sports Fever 4-1 to secure a spot in the championship tournament.
The Rockets, who finished the season 35-12, dropped their final game of pool play 11-4 to the host Battle Creek Merchants before bowing out of the tournament with a quarterfinal loss to the Pittsburgh Lefties, 6-1.
Miller sees Portland being selected as a host team as a testament to the longstanding tradition of the Rockets.
“Tradition is part of the baseball lore and we’re certainly proud of ours here in Portland,” he said.
All Rights Reserved
For decades, the Rockets had to take road trips to play in a regional tournament.
This summer, they’ll host the stepping stone to the world series.
The Portland Rockets and Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau jointly announced Thursday that Portland will play host to a National Amateur Baseball Federation mini-regional tournament in July.
“We’re so pleased to announce Portland has been named host of a national mini-regional NABF tournament right here at Runkle-Miller Field,” said Portland Rockets manager Randy Miller. “This tournament has implications to the path to the world series. The head office in Baltimore has deemed Portland a place to play baseball. We’re honored to get the site announced to be held here at Runkle-Miller Field.”
The tournament will be July 27 through 29.
The NABF, which enters its 105th season this year, sanctions mini-regional and regional tournaments with the winners earning a berth into the NABF World Series in Battle Creek, Michigan, from Aug. 9 through 12.
This year, however, Portland won’t have to travel for postseason play.
“In the past we’ve had the World Baseball Congress tournament, which is an invitational to prep up for the regionals that allow people to go to the world series,” Miller said. Portland also previously served as host of the American Amateur Baseball Congress state tournament. “This (mini-regional) is directly connected. This is a national tournament which we participated last year in Cincinnati Reds’ Urban Academy.”
The Cincinnati tournament featured teams from Berea, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and of course Portland.
Runkle-Miller Field’s regional will have a field of four to six teams.
“We’re always wanting to showcase our community and the history the Rockets have had,” said Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman. “Everybody knows Ray Miller when he was the Rockets coach and everybody knows Randy.
“We have something almost every place out in the Midwest doesn’t have. The support the Rockets have here community-wide is just fantastic.”
The Portland Rockets came up short in the mini-regional tournament last year in Cincinnati, but won the regional tournament in Fort Wayne to reach the world series for the second time in team history. The first was in 2012.
Portland opened pool play at the world series with consecutive victories, beating the Beecher Muskies 5-3 and the defending champion Brooklyn Sports Fever 4-1 to secure a spot in the championship tournament.
The Rockets, who finished the season 35-12, dropped their final game of pool play 11-4 to the host Battle Creek Merchants before bowing out of the tournament with a quarterfinal loss to the Pittsburgh Lefties, 6-1.
Miller sees Portland being selected as a host team as a testament to the longstanding tradition of the Rockets.
“Tradition is part of the baseball lore and we’re certainly proud of ours here in Portland,” he said.
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