Rockets fall in semifinal

SAGINAW AND PINCONNING, Michigan — The Rockets found some momentum in the Firecracker Tourney.

Four runs was enough to win their first two games against Michiana Brewers and the Midland Coyotes.

Four runs wasn’t enough to beat the Royals.

The Portland Rockets fell 5-4 to the South Bend Royals in the Firecracker Tourney on Sunday at Pinconning High School after beating the Brewers and Coyotes by scores of 4-1 and 4-2, respectively, at Saginaw Swan Valley High School.

Sam Dunlavy gave up three runs to the Royals in the first inning but held them at bay while his team fought back.

Zach Tanner and Peyton Smith both launched home runs to contribute to a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Rockets couldn’t hold the lead, as the Royals loaded the bases against Dunlavy before Smith walked two runs in to give up the lead.

Tanner also hit a two-run home run against the Brewers. Jared Holley added another two-run shot against the Coyotes.

Garrison Brege earned the win in game one while Nick Bailey took care of game two. Both pitched the full seven frames.



Indians advance

COLDWATER, Ohio — The Fort Recovery ACME baseball team fell in the 2023 Mercer County ACME Sectional Tournament championship 13-1 Friday to Coldwater, but clinched a spot in the district tournament with a 3-0 win over Marion Local on the same day.

The Indians are slated to play the Minster Wildcats tonight at home at 4 p.m.

Fort Recovery’s sole run against the Cavaliers came in the first inning. Caden Grisez blasted a triple to left field and quickly scored when Gavin Faller reached second base on a bunt.

Coldwater got the best of the Indians’ pitching, scoring multiple runs against all three pitchers. Alex Gaerke suffered the loss after surrendering six runs in four and a third innings.

In the game against the Flyers, Alex Dues blanked his opponents to earn the win.

Grisez and Mason Diller drove in runs for the Indians. Diller’s groundout scored Troy Homan to score the first run and Grisez’s sacrifice fly pushed Reece Wendel across the plate.



Wings finish perfect

Wings and Rings won the Portland Junior League Rookie softball championship game 13-2 against REMC on Friday to complete a perfect season.

Four players were perfect from the plate for Wings and Rings with three hits.

Emme Theurer crushed the ball to earn three triples. She scored all three times.

Carsyn Guggenbiller also scored three runs while hitting a double and two singles.

Kendall Evans hit a triple and Kierstyn White smacked a double to go along with two singles and runs apiece.

Maitlynn Castillo, Brooklyn Evans and Hadleigh Walker all were 2-for-3 from the plate. Castillo and Evans both scored once.



Forge blowout win

Portland Forge won the Portland Junior League Sandy Kofax baseball championship in grand fashion as they beat Local 1620 26-6 on Friday.

Cohen Shimp’s three doubles and two singles produced five runs for Forge in the victory.

Andrew Day and Varin Ridgeway both added four RBIs in the game. Day drove in the runs on three singles and Ridgeway with two.

To round out the offense, Cooper Shimp drove in two runs on a double and a single and Cooper Reynolds hit three singles to plate another run.

Logan Wendel also had two singles in the game for Portland Forge.

Rhysin Blowers hit a pair of doubles that drove in four of Local 1620’s six runs.

Dominic Bright and Bryce Ritchie had the other two RBIs.

Cody Jacobs’ three singles led Local 1620 in hits while Kenton Cochran added two.