Rebels Upset Milleteers

The Ryley Rebels pulled off the first upset of the 2009 PBL season as they beat the Leduc Milleteers 3-2 last night in Ryley in a game that only lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The Rebels started LHP Darcy Grandberg on the bump, going 3.2 strong innings facing 17 batters, while striking out 3, walking only 2, and giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. Unfortunately Grandberg was unable to survive the 4th inning as Leduc scored 2 runs on two hits and a walk. RHP Curt Stensrude came in relief for his Ryley Rebel debut, and what a strong debut it was. Pitching 3.1 innings, Stensrude was able to surrender only 3 hits and not give the Leduc offense a chance to get the wheels turning.

The Rebels offense was struggling early to cash in runs against Leduc RHP Scott Peterson, as they left 7 batters on base while Peterson was pitching. With the Milleteers up 2-1 at the start of the bottom of 6th, Leduc turned to their closer RHP Murray Doyle to finish off the Rebels. However Rebels 2B Kyle Reinholt had other ideas, as he greeted Doyle with a monsterous solo shot to deep left centre to tie the game. “It was no big deal” said Reinholt who might have the PBL’s slowest home run trot. With the game tied the Rebels decided to play a little small ball against the Milleteers as 1B Travis Bugge ripped a Texas leaguer into right field. Bugge was eliminated on a fielders choice by 3B Shane Metrunic during the next at bat but with an overthrow to first by the short stop, Metrunic was able to advance to second. With the winning run at second C Bryan Toles laid down a sac bunt to move Metrunic over to third for CF Dustin Solberg. With two strikes against him, and two out, Solberg was able to pull through by ripping a fastball into centre field to cash in Metrunic and give the Rebels a 3-2 lead.

Defensive play of the game came in the top of the 7th inning by C Bryan Toles and/or RHP Curt Stensrude. After the leadoff man got on board with a single, Leduc’s second batter Adam Pahl at the dish, Leduc called for a sacrifce bunt. Unfortunately Pahl got a little air under it and it popped up towards Stensrude. With the grace of a panther, Stensrude dove into full extension and made the catch giving Leduc one out and no runner at second. With a runner a first and Leduc threatening to advance runners into scoring position, Toles was able to gun down Leduc’s Dan Stephen has he attempted to swipe second and put Leduc in the hole with 2 outs.

Manager Corey Epp has been impressed with the way the Rebels offense and defensive play has started to shape up with some veteran presence. “I think when you only commit one error in two games, it gives you a chance to win, which is all you need” says Epp “having quick defensive innings gives the offense a better chance to get into the game”. He was also optimistic in the offense as for the third game in a row the offense has put out double digit hits against some good pitching in Don Oslund (Bardo), Ken Parent (Tofield) and Scott Peterson (Leduc).

The Rebels look to get even with the Bardo Athletics as the head down highway 14 (and south a little) to Bardo on Tuesday June 2nd. This will be game two of the 4 game season series, Bardo leads 1-0 with a 11-6 victory in Ryley. The Rebels then travel cross country to the “gravel pit” to play the Armena Royals on Thursday.

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Kris Kushnerick