Rockets fall in semifinal

FORT WAYNE — The Rockets made it to championship Sunday by beating the Brewers 8-3 a day earlier.

With the title on the line against the Brewers in the semifinal, Portland left the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base late in the game.

The Portland Rockets had their hopes of winning a third straight Firecracker Classic come to an end Sunday afternoon with a 5-4 loss to the Mishawaka Brewers in the tournament semifinal at Carrington Field.

Portland (9-7), which split a pair of games Saturday — a 2-0 loss to the Whitko Wildcats and the win over the Brewers — trailed the Brewers 5-0 Sunday. A four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Zeth Tanner, started the Rocket rally.

With a runner at third, a botched squeeze play in hopes of tying the game thwarted the comeback attempt.

One inning later, the Rockets had runners at the corners after Zach Tanner and Malave Bettinger both got hits, but the rest of the team could not bring them around.

Saturday, Garrett Scott suffered his first loss in six years as a member of the Rockets in the defeat to the Wildcats. Scott was 24-0 over that span.

Mitch Waters got the win against the Brewers, scattering six hits and allowing three earned runs.

Portland returns to Runkle-Miller Field, where it is 8-0 on the year, at 7:15 p.m. Friday as it hosts the Fort Wayne Jackers. Portland entertains the Hammond Lakers for a twin bill at 1 p.m. Saturday before a week-long break.