Rockets take Carrington Red championship

FORT WAYNE — The opening game of the tournament resulted in a forfeit before the weekend started off strong for the Rockets as the offense was firing on all cylinders.

As the Rockets started to work through the opposition, their offense began to wane, but good defense and pitching kept them going.

All of it came together for a three-run win in the championship against the Kekionga.

The Portland Rockets went 4-0 over the weekend to claim the 2024 Carrington Red Tournament with a 5-2 victory over Northeast Kekionga in the championship game.

The Rockets (17-14) passed the opening round on Friday night after the Fort Wayne Blues didn’t have enough players to compete.

They finally got into action on Saturday with a 7-4 win over the Fort Wayne Renegades. A four-run fourth inning made the difference.

Sam Dunalvy got hit by a pitch to get the first runner on base before back-to-back singles by Noah McEldowney and Dylan Brammer loaded the bases. Kenny Bailey added his own base hit that scored two runs. Bailey swiped second base and Brammer scored on a throwing error. The final run of the inning crossed via a sacrifice fly by Joel Kennedy.

Camden LaFuze earned the win after tossing 6 ⅓ innings giving up three earned runs on five hits and five walks. He also struck out eight batters.

The next two games were a lot closer as Portland took down the South Bend Royals 2-0 on Saturday afternoon and the Fort Wayne Jackers 1-0 Sunday morning.

The Rockets’ first run against the Royals came in the second inning on an infield hit by LaFuze. They added a second when Mitch Waters’ single to the right half plated Bailey.

Brammer earned the win with the complete game. He only gave up one hit and two walks while striking out batters 13 times.

Garrison Brege delivered the pitching gem for Portland’s victory over the Jackers. He only gave up two hits and two walks while going the distance.

His only offensive support came in the second inning when LaFuze again delivered an infield single to score a run.

After going down 1-0 to the Kekionga in the third inning, the Rockets stormed back with a four-run fifth.

Brege opened up the scoring with a solo home run to tie the game. A pair of singles by Jared Holley and L Rogers and a walk by McEldowney loaded the bases. Brammer and Bailey both walked to drive in runs before the fourth came in on Kennedy’s single.

Tyler Reynolds earned the win after giving up one earned run in six innings, before Brammer closed the game out with the save.