REBELS RALLY COMES UP SHORT AS JAYS FORCE GAME THREE

After a come from behind victory in game one, the Rebels would once again find themselves trailing and needing a comeback. Unfortunately the baseball gods did not allow the Rebels to escape another slow start, as the rally would fall short in the seventh inning with the tying run at second base. The 7-5 loss to the Jays will now force a third game tomorrow night in Ryley, with the winner laying claim to the 2014 PBL Championship. 

Win - Logan Skori

Loss - Corey Epp (4-2)

Save - Kyle Muzechka

The Jays would send P Logan Skori to the mound for the elimination game, a pitcher that the Rebels had nothing but success against, winning in each of the last three seasons versus him. The Rebels would counter with four game winner, P Corey Epp who would pitch a great game, with the only issue coming in 0-2 and 1-2 counts as the Jays would score most of their runs on two out base hits down in the count. 

The Rebels would put a runner into scoring position with an opposite field double off of the fence by SS Dylan Solberg but would fail to capitalize on Skori. In the bottom half of the inning Skori would help his own cause by collecting a two out, two RBI triple down in the count to put the Jays up 2-0 after one. The Jays would add to their lead and make it a 4-0 game when SS Grayson Soprovich would collect another 0-2 hit against Epp and the second bases clearing triple in as many innings as C Steve Hrabec and LF Alan Ziegler would come around to score on the play. Both triples would be well hit line drives to the gap between CF Kris Kushnerick and RF Kevin Reinholt, as the Rebels elected to go big in the outfield with the combination of Reinholt, Kushnerick and LF Dustin Solberg. Sitting at 6'3" and 230lbs, Kushnerick would be the smallest of the trio much to the enjoyment of the Rebels dugout before the game as they would be a stark contrast to the Ziegler Outfield of Alan in left, Randall in centre and Brian in right.

Down 4-0 the Rebels would finally get to Skori in the third inning sending seven hitters to the plate starting with a LF Dusting Solberg single. 2B Tom Shulba would add a one out single followed by another hit by SS Dylan Solberg to load the bases. Skori would get the Rebels leading hitter and clean up man, 1B Craig Koughan but 3B Shawn Pilgaard would line a shot down the left field line to score Dustin Solberg and Shulba. On the play Pilgaard would head to second and an ill adivised throw by SS Grayson Soprovich would end up in right field and Dylan Solberg to trot in from third base to make it a 4-3 game after three innings. 

Both the Jays and the Rebels hitters would be held in check until the sixth inning when the Jays would score another three runs to open the game up to a 7-3 lead. With one out in the inning C Steve Hrabec would start one of three hits in succession for the Jays resulting in two runs and ending Epp's night on the hill in favour of veteran P Don Oslund. Oslund would get out of the inning but not before another LF Alan Ziegler would get caught in a rundown after an error to SS Dylan Solberg allowing PR Colten Ziegler to score from third. Heading into the seventh inning, the Rebels were trailing 7-3 with the Jays turning to their closer Kyle Muzechka, who once again would be knocked around by the Rebels. 

2B Tom Shulba would start the rally with a one out walk and move into scoring position on SS Dylan Solberg's third hit of the game and a bobble in the outfield by the Jays right fielder. 1B Craig Koughan would pick up a RBI on the comebacker which bounced off of Muzechka's foot as opposed to going up the middle for a single. Now with two outs, 3B Shawn Pilgaard would reach on a single that bounced off of the third base bag and RF Kevin Reinholt would add a Texas Leaguer for a RBI and get to second base as Pilgaard would hustle in to third and beat Muzechka to the bag. Trailing 7-5 with the tying run at second base, the Rebels thought they had another run on what appeared to be a balk as Muzechka stepped off of the rubber after coming to the set position without breaking his hands. The home plate umpire saw it differently and instead of a 7-6 ball game with the tying run at third, C Chad Nelson would be faced with a 3-2 count which would result in a game inning ground ball up the middle. What could have been a single through the middle turned in to a 4-3 putout to end the game as the Jays second baseman, although strangely positioned nearly on the bag at second, would be positioned perfectly to take away the single and possible game tying RBI. 

The series will now shift back to Ryley for the deciding game three, forcing PBL President and current Bardo Athletic, Craig Neufeld to come out to yet another Rebels game this season. While it is unclear who the Jays will turn to for game three, potentially Soprovich on two days rest or Colten Zeigler, the Rebels will have either Craig Koughan, Tom Shulba or Shawn Pilgaard ready and waiting for Manager Kevin Reinholt's nod to start as all three are rested and ready to go. 

First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm at the Ryley Ballpark and the Rebels are expecting a crowd topping Tuesday night's record setting crowd now that the PBL Championship will be handed out for sure.