Rebels Pumped Again By Royals

The Ryley Rebels are now 0-2 against the Armena Royals this season, the team that they are fighting for the last playoff spot in the Powerline League standings and are back to .500 and tied with the Bardo Athletics for third place. This is the second time that the Rebels offense has been shut down by Royals RHP Joel “Pumps” Boettger this season as they were beat by a score of 7-2. 

The Rebels countered with LHP Darcy Grandberg on the bump, and the defense was no where to be found when Grandberg needed them to be. The Rebels committed 7 fielding errors on the night while having a patch work defense, CF Corey Epp playing short stop, RF Travis Jones playing first base and making his Rebel debut on short notice in right field was OF Stu Steinrick. “We were pretty short handed tonight” said Manager Corey Epp, “it is a little disappointing to play a fairly meaningful game with a short roster like we had”. Missing were IF Curt Stensrud, IF Dylan Solberg, OF Dustin Solberg, P Shane Metrunic, C Jon Lehman, OF Tyler Hansen and C Bryan Toles. 

The Rebel offense was held off the score board until the 4th inning when Grandberg came in to score on an error by the first baseman. The next, and last, run scored by the Rebels came off a solo home run by Rebel LF Kris Kushnerick in the bottom of the 5th inning. Kushnerick and Boettger, teammates on the Camrose Axemen of the NCABL, had a good battle going all game.

“I wish I could have two swings back against Pumps” said Kushnerick, “the foul ball in the 3rd inning and the last at bat fly out to left field when he jammed me on the handle a little” In the 3rd inning Kushnerick hit a long foul ball that would have been a home run in any of the league’s fields, only to follow it up with a bloop single to centre field later in the at bat. “It must have been the new Mailman Bat” said 2B Kyle Reinholt, who Kushnerick tied for the Rebel home run lead with one. “Solberg’s doesn’t count” added Reinholt of the home run Dylan Solberg hit in the Roadrunner tournament, “tell him to hit one in league play.” 

The Rebels did receive a boost both offensively, but more important defensively behind the plate as C Matt Starky made his return from the disabled list (Starky injured his knee on May 26th in Tofield sliding into second). Starky was able to keep balls in the dirt in front of him and called an excellent game for Grandberg. He also chipped in with a 2 for 3 performance at the dish, including a beautiful bunt for base hit in the 4th inning. 

The Rebels are now in a must win situation on Thursday as both teams will do it again. Same teams. Same time. Same ballpark. With Armena up 2-0 in the series, they now hold the first tie break against the Rebels, and with Armena scheduled to play the Tofield Lakers (0-10) two more times, the clock could be running out on the Rebels playoff hopes if they do not turn things around. The Rebels are expecting RHP Dylan Solberg to make his return while the Armena media is reporting that young C/RHP Adam Johnson may take to the bump for the Royals. After this week though the Rebels may become Laker fans as they hope, as well as the Lakers, that they can play spoiler to some team’s playoff hopes. Go Lakers Go!

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Kris Kushnerick