REBELS LEAVE LEDUC WITH A VICTORY

The Ryley Rebels moved to 2-0 in the early part of the 2015 Powerline Baseball League season with a 3-2 win over the Leduc Milleteers who now fall to 0-2. The low scoring game was was smeared with errors as the Milleteers committed four errors leading to all three of the Rebel runs to be unearned while the Rebels committed a total of three errors giving the Milleteers one unearned run. The win against the Milleteers is the third in a row for the Rebels dating back to the 2014 PBL Semi-Finals swept. 

Win - Scott Koughan (1-0)     Loss - Jon Anstey     Save - Tom Shulba (1)

The game was billed as a potential pitchers duel with the Rebels sending Scott Koughan to the hill for his first appearance of the season while the Milleteers countered with Jon Anstey. The last time Anstey pitched against the Rebels was on July 21, 2014 when he would lead the Milleteers to a 7-4 win in Ryley to deny the Rebels the PBL Pennant. Anstey would not get the opportunity to pitch agains the Rebels during the semi-final series. The pitchers would not disappoint as Rebel hitters were only able to muster a total of six hits against Anstey over the course of seven innings, which turned out to be just enough as the Milleteers offence struggle with only four hits against the tandem of Scott Koughan and Tom Shulba. 

The Rebels wouldn’t waste much time getting on the score board as they would put up two runs in the top of the first inning, both unearned due to a big two out error by the Milleteers second baseman. With one out, catcher Chad Nelson would reach base on a single before getting into scoring position by stealing second base. Anstey would get Shawn Pilgaard to pop up to the third baseman for the second out of the inning but an error by the Milleteers second baseman would not only extend the inning for the Rebels but would allow Nelson to score from second. Shortstop Brian Tavaroli would make it a 2-0 game when he would single home Craig Koughan from second base before the Milleteers would get out of the inning on a fielders choice. 

Another big error would come back and bite the Milleteers. this time in the top of the third inning when once again Chad Nelson would come around to score from second base on a ball off the bat of first baseman Craig Koughan. This time the error was committed by short stop Trevor Pahl, giving the Rebels three unearned runs and a 3-0 lead. Despite two more errors committed by the Milleteers infield, Anstey would avoid any further damage and keep his team in the game by scattering three more hits over the next four innings and only allowed three more Rebels to reach scoring position on the night. 

Since joining the club in the off season of 2014, Scott Koughan as provided the Rebels with the ability to win a tight, low scoring ball game. Tonights game was no different. Koughan would pitch four innings in his first start of the season allowing only one run on only three hits. Koughan would work effectively on the hill as he would get eleven of the twelve outs either by a play in the infield or a strikeout. The only ball to leave the infield for an out was a second inning fly ball off the bat of Gregg Zilkie which found its way to left fielder Corey Epp. The Milleteers would make it a 3-1 game in the bottom of the third inning when short stop Trevor Pahl would score on a RBI fielder’s choice by third baseman Brad Engel. Koughan would end his day with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning as the Rebels turned to relief pitcher Tom Shulba to preserve the lead and work three innings for his first save of the season. 

The only blemish on Shulba’s line was the first batter he would face on the night in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lead off walks are never good for a pitcher and the fifth inning lead off walk to catcher Shane Gerein was no different. Gerein would work a walk out of Shulba then steal second to become only the third Milleteer runner to reach scoring position through the first four innings. With one out, Anstey would reach base due to an error by Rebels short stop Brian Tavaroli which also allowed Gerein to score from second base and make it a one run game at 3-2. Shulba would however settle down and prevent the Milleteers from tying the game and earn the coveted three inning save, his first save of 2015. 

The win moves the Rebels to 2-0 on the season and sets up a match up with the 2-0 Armena Royals on Thursday night in Ryley. First pitch for the Rebels home opener is scheduled for 7:00pm at the Ryley Ballpark.