EPP & REBELS DRAW FIRST BLOOD AGAINST MILLETEERS

It has taken four seasons and six playoff games, but the Ryley Rebels finally got their first playoff win since ousting the Holden Blue Jays in 2010. It is also the first win against the Leduc Milleteers in the playoffs despite playing the Milleteers in six previous games from 2009 - 2011 in the PBL Playoffs. The win came on the back of Rebels veteran P Corey Epp who would lead the team through six strong innings surrendering only a pair of runs in the teams 4-2 game one win in Leduc tonight. 

Win - Corey Epp (4-1)

Loss - Chad Soucy

Save - Tom Shulba (1)

Save for a turbulent third inning for Epp, which saw the Milleteers score both their runs and collect four of their six hits, the home town Leduc hitters were left off balance hitting into what has become a solid Rebels defence. Epp would only strikeout one Millteer, a sixth inning swing and miss by C Shane Gerein, but would record nine ground ball outs and another six infield pop outs on the way to his fourth victory of the year as fifteen of his eighteen outs were via the infield.

SS Dylan Solberg would have the bulk of the work on the infield recording seven assists and four put outs on the night, while only committing one error off the bat of LF Mark Walker of the Milleteers. Epp would dig in on the mound and pick up his shortstop getting two fly ball outs to strand Walker at second base after a sacrifice bunt to get him into scoring position by CF Greg Zilkie.

The only offence the Milleteers could muster aganst the Rebels right hander came in the third inning when singles by 1B Murray Doyle and 3B Trevor Pahl to lead off the inning would quickly put a runner into scoring position for what was then a 1-0 Rebels lead. After getting two outs on a pair of pop flys to SS Dylan Solberg, Milleteers RF Kirk Smith would give Leduc the lead on a two RBI single through the right side of the Rebels infield to make it a 2-1 game. C Shane Gerein would add the teams fourth single of the inning and second two out hit, but Epp would get LF Mark Walker to ground out into a fielder's choice to end the inning. 

Then that was it for the Milleteers offence as only one more Leduc baserunner would find themselves at second base in the remaining four innings of play against Epp and relief pitcher Tom Shulba in the bottom of the seventh inning. Shulba would record his first Rebels save of the year retiring the Milleteers in order with a pair of strikeouts and a pop up to 1B Craig Koughan to send the series back to Ryley with a Rebesl 1-0 lead. 

As the Rebels pitching and defense were holding the five time PBL Champion, Leduc Milleteers at bay, they offence was summoned to overcome an early 2-1 lead.

Ryley would strike first in the first inning as a one out walk to C Chad Nelson by Milleteers starter Chad Soucy led to a stolen base and two out RBI single by the Rebels hitting leader Craig Koughan. After the quick 1-0 deficit Soucy would settle down through the next four innings, including getting out of a bases load jam in the fifth inning, retiring nine out of ten Rebels at one point. But the Rebels would get sparked in the sixth inning with Koughan's second hit of the game, this time a double to give the Rebels the tying run in scoring poisition. A one out single by 2B Brian Tavaroli would lead to a RBI fielder's choice off of the bat of RF Kevin Reinholt as the Milleteers would try to cut down Koughan at home but be unsuccessful leading to a 2-2 score.

Like he has so many times already in 2014 batting down in the order, P Corey Epp would once again come up big for the offence in a clutch at bat. Epp would single home 2B Brian Tavaroli for the 3-2 lead and help his own cause with the RBI. The sixth inning was tough for the Milleteers as not only would they lose the lead to the Rebels but the would also lose 3B Trevor Pahl to an injury on a collision with RF Kevin Reinholt at third base. If lost for the series it would be a huge blow to the Milleteers offence as Pahl has been one of the best Leduc hitters and defensive players all season long. 

In the top of the seventh inning the Rebels would add a huge insurance run off of a tired Soucy. After two quick infield popups Soucy would hit SS Dylan Solberg. A passed ball moved Solberg into scoring position when 1B Craig Koughan would get his third hit of the game and second RBI by driving a ball into centre field to score Solberg rounding third base. On the play, CF Greg Zilkie would bobble the ball, perhaps trying to sneak a peak at Solberg rounding third, allowing Koughan to sail into second base. Another single in the inning by 3B Shawn Pilgaard would move Koughan into third base but Soucy would finally get out of the inning with a pop up of 2B Brian Tavaroli. 

It was a statement game for the Rebels who were squaring off against the Milleteers for the second night in a row and showed the league that the offence can be good enough against good pitching and the pitching depth of the rotation and bullpen are there to possibly give the Ryley squad a deep playoff run. They will once again need to get through the Milleteers as it is expected Leduc will send veteran Steve Pahl to the hill for game two on Thursday in Ryley with P Jon Anstey pitching on Monday night against the Rebels for seven innings, Soucy pitching tonight for seven innings, the depth of the once overpowering Leduc rotation will be tested. It is not clear who the Rebels will turn to for game two but the options are plenty with Scott Koughan, Shawn Pilgaard, Tom Shulba, Don Oslund and even Ron Oslund as possibilities. 

Game time is 7:00pm at the Ryley Ballpark as the Rebels look for the franchises first ever sweep in the playoffs and first trip back to the PBL Championship since 2010. Fans are encouraged to bring an umbrella as the forecast is calling for rain, the Rebels are hoping though that the clouds stay away to keep the momentum going.

2B: C.Koughan (7)

TB: C.Koughan (4), Dy.Solberg (1), Pilgaard (1), Tavaroli (1), Ke.Reinholt (1), Epp (1)

RBI: C.Koughan 2 (17), Ke.Reinholt 1 (11), Epp 1 (14)

SAC: Epp (1)

SB: Nelson (12), Dy.Solberg (3)

TB: Zilkie (1), M.Doyle (1), T.Pahl (1), Smith (1), Gerein (1), Brinkworth (1)

DP: M.Walker