Big inning pushes Rockets past Jackers

FORT WAYNE — Sometimes, all you need is one big inning to win a ball game.

That’s exactly what the Rockets got, as a six-run fourth inning buoyed the team above .500.

The Portland Rockets hung on to beat the Fort Wayne Jackers 6-4 on Wednesday night.

The Rockets (8-7) led off the fourth inning with three singles to load the bases before Peyton Smith drew a walk to score the first run for Portland.

Blake Caldwell followed suit with an RBI-single and Ayden Lichtenstinger added a two-RBI-single.

Two more runs would score on an error by the Jackers’ pitcher and another single by Jared Holley.

Sam Dunlavy earned the win for the Rockets, giving up three runs in his four innings of work. All three runs came in the second inning.

The Rockets’ bullpen held the Jackers at bay for the rest of the game, only giving up one final run in the bottom of the seventh inning.



Swimmers win

BERNE — The Jay County Summer Swim Team added another dominant performance to their resume as they beat South Adams 743-288. Of the 80 events, Jay swimmers won 68.

Jay County had nine athletes that won three different individual events. At the 15-and-older level were Matthew Fisher (50-meter freestyle, butterfly and backstroke) and Mara Bader (200 open freestyle, backstroke and individual medley).

The only triple winner for the 13-14-year-olds was Cooper Glentzer, who topped the 50 freestyle, butterfly and individual medley.

Maria Laux (butterfly, backstroke and individual medley) and Grady Warvel (50 freestyle, butterfly and individual medley) won three events for the Swimmers at the 11-12-year-old level.

The 9-10-year-old boys 50 freestyle, butterfly and individual medley was taken care of by Jackson Westgerdes while Addisyn Champ took care of the girls 25 freestyle, 50 freestyle and individual medley.

Two girls from Jay County dominated the 8-and-younger girls category, those being Cora Arnold (50 freestyle, butterfly and individual medley) and Jaley Knapschafer (25 freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke).

Jay County also won 17 of the 20 relay races.



All-Stars sweep

The Portland All Stars 8-and-younger softball team won a tournament Wednesday night by winning games against Yorktown 11-1 and Monroe Central 20-11.

Offensive leaders in the game against Yorktown included Emme Theurer who smashed a three-run home run and a single and Carsyn Guggenbiller who hit a solo-home run while adding two singles.

In the championship game, Kynlee Homan’s four singles and four runs led the All Stars. Kierstyn White was also 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, two singles and two runs.

Theurer, Kendall Snow and Devynn Thobe all were 3-for-3 from the box against Monroe Central. Snow hit a triple and scored two runs for Portland. Theurer also scored two runs while Thobe added three.

The All Stars also got multiple hits from Savannah Hudson (five), Jolee LeMaster (four), Hazel Skirvin (four) and Kennedy Newell (two) between the two games..



Berry lifts Barnett’s

Bryson Berry’s walk-off single won the game for Barnett’s Auto Parts 16-15 over William’s Auto Parts on Wednesday of Portland Junior League Rookie baseball.

Bently Berry also had a strong day at the plate for Barnett’s, hitting 4-for-4 including a grand slam.

Cohen Saint and Lyric McCord both slashed a line of three hits, and two doubles for each.

Alex Miller also hit a double for Barnett’s while Drew Lingo slashed three hits.

William’s Auto Parts had two players go a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate. Parker Huntsman hit a triple, double and two singles while Brett Huntsman smacked a triple and three singles.

Zander Williams followed behind the Huntsmans with three singles in four at bats.



Lions, PG tie

Lions Club and PG14 of Portland Junior League Willie Mays baseball finished in a 6-6 tie on Wednesday.

Down 6-1 in the final frame, Lions Club rattled off five runs to tie the game.

All three Hemmelgarns performed well at the plate in the game. Finn Hemmelgarn blasted a home run to center field for Lions Club in the final inning. Sawyer Hemmelgarn smashed a triple and a double in the game, while Tuck Hemmelgarn added a triple.

Beckham Hough led the offensive charge for PG14 with a pair of triples. Tanner Day had a double for the team, while Eli Homan and Ben Wallace combined for six walks.

On the mound, Homan struck out eight batters while giving up one run.



POET victorious

POET Bioprocessing took down Matt’s Garage of Portland Junior League Rookie baseball 10-5 on Wednesday night.

Nolan Homan, Corbin Hutzler and Landon Minnich all tallied three hits each for POET Bioprocessing in the game.

Following with two hits apiece were Harvey Hemmelgarn, Koblyn Martinez and Owen Micheal.

Eli Michael, Dakoda Smith and Braxton Tow all added one hit as well.