THE FW REBELS FLASH THEIR RINGS EARNED BY GOING UNDEFEATED IN THE 12U AA DFW 30 NIT TOURNAMENT IN PLANO.

The FW Rebels definitely opened the 2019 Tournament season in grand fashion by going undefeated in the DFW30 NIT Championships. Unfortunately, due to weather, the actual championship game could not be played but the Rebels will be rewarded with rings since they made the championship and finished top-2.

GAME BY GAME RECAPS

FW REBELS 19    BN SAINTS 5

The Rebs exploded for seven runs in the top half of the first inning and never looked back crushing BN Saints 19-5.  Evan Smith started on the hill for the Rebels and was dominant in the first inning striking out all three hitters faced. The Rebels added four more runs in the 2nd inning to go up 11-0 and then the skies opened making thing super difficult for Smith and the Rebel defenders.  Still, they fought through it and won easily.  Jack Dalton, Evan Smith, Jackson Jordan, Quentin Enos, & Will Adams all had multi hit games wihile Dalton, Smith, Jordan, Enos & Evan Swindell all had multiple RBI.  Jace Franke was newly inserted into the leadoff sport and responded by reaching base all three times and scoring three runs.  Smith was the winning pitcher.

FW REBELS 15   NTX PIRATES 0

Pitchers Jack Dalton & Jackson Jordan combined on a 1-hitter as the Rebels shutout NTX Pirates 15-0. Leadoff man Jace Franke had the biggest hit of the game with an inside-the-park grand slam that scored Christopher Calabrese, Will Adams, & Evan Swindell.  Franke finished the game 2-3, with 5 RBI. Drew Horstman, Evan Smith, Jackson Jordan & Quentin Enos all had multi-hit games.  Dalton was the winner on the hill with his two shutout innings.  The Rebels finished pool play 2-0 and earned the #2 seed.

FW REBELS 7   NTX TRIBE BRYANT 6

One of the best features of the 2018 FW Rebels was their never-say-die attitude no matter what the score.  After a few blowout victories, they hadn't been tested in 2019 yet.  They were tested in bracket play and passed with flying colors.  Evan Smith got things started on the right foot with a missile line drive Home Run to right field that gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead.  That was still the score in the top of the 3rd when the Tribe scored 6 runs on 5 hits including a 2-run HR off of Rebel starter Jackson Jordon.  Only 3 of the 6 runs were earned.  Jack Dalton was able to come in and slam the door on the Tribe as they would not score another run the rest of the way.  So, the Rebels started chipping away.  In the 4th, Jon Doko hit a run-scoring groundout that scored Jack Dalton to make it 6-2.  In the 5th, Karson Symonds & Quentin Enos hit back-to-back doubles to make it 6-3.  That set the stage for one of the more dramatic final innings in Rebels history and there have been a few.  With one out, and the Rebels down 3 runs, Jack Dalton doubled to right.  Evan Smith followed with his own double to make it 6-4.  Jackson Jordan then singled in Smith to make it 6-5.  Up to the plate stepped Drew Horstman.  Horstman wasted little time crushing a hard liner to deep center.  The tribe center fielder looked like he might have a play on it, but it hit his glove and went over the fence for a game-winning walk-off 2-run bomb.  The Rebels all mobbed Horstman at home plate as they were all on their way to the semi-finals.

FW REBELS 8   WYLIE RANGERS 7

Fatigue and the late afternoon sun were also an opponent of the Rebels in the semifinals.  The Rebels, as they have in every tournament they have ever played....made the semi's.  Evan Smith started on the hill and battled hard through some control problems to eat up three innings.  Drew Horstman entered midway through the 3rd to calm things down and the Rebs were down 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 3rd.  Jace Franke opened the inning with a hard single off of the center field wall.  Jack Dalton followed with a single and Evan Smith walked to load the bases.  The next hitter, Jackson Jordan, fought off a tough two-strike pitch to drop one into right field for a bases-clearing 3-run double.  Jon Doko singled advancing pinch-runner Evan Swindell to 3rd.  Swindell then scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Horstman walked and Doko was able to score on a Karson Symonds ground out. Quentin Enos capped off the scoring with an RBI single to make it 7-3.  The Wylie Rangers fought hard in the final inning and scratched out 4 runs to tie it up at 7.  Once again, magic would strike.  After two were out, Jack Dalton singled.  Evan Smith stepped into the box and with Dalton running, singled sharply to right center.  Dalton motored around third and slid home with the winning run as the Rebels won their second consecutive walk off.  Dalton was the winning pitcher in both games Sunday.

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TOURNAMENT-

Jace Franke's double play catch in CF with a bullet throw to Jackson Jordan at third vs NTX Pirates.

Smooth pickoff and successful rundown pulled off with pitcher Quentin Enos, firstbaseman Karson Symonds, and SS Jack Dalton vs BN Saints.

Running grab by Drew Horstman up the middle vs NTX Pirates.

Evan Smith's diving catch in right field vs NTX Tribe.

Will Adam's over the shoulder grab near the wall vs NTX Tribe.

Jace Franke's sliding catch in shallow center vs NTX Tribe.

Jace Franke's throw toC Jon Doko to gun down an NTX Tribe runner attempting to score.

Jackson Jordan's smooth running grab in RF vs NTX Tribe.

Jack Dalton's snag of a potential single up the middle while he was pitching vs NTX Tribe.

Jackson Jordan throwing to Quentin Enos at 3rd for a caught stealing.

Jackson Jordan picking a runner off of 1st base and Karson Symond getting the out with a nice throw to Drew Horstman at 2nd.

Individual Player Highlights

Jace Franke hit .444 with a home run, 7 runs scored and 5 RBI.

Jack Dalton went 8-11 with 8 runs scored and 3 RBI.

Evan Smith went 7-11 with 7 runs scored and 8 RBI. He hit for the cycle in the tournament.

Drew Horstman hit .500 with the dramatic walk off HR and 4RBI.

Jackson Jordan went 7-8 at the plate with 6 runs scored and a team leading 9 RBI.

Karson Symonds hit .444 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.

Quentin Enos went 6-7 with 3 doubles and 2 triples and 5 RBI.

Christopher Calabrese hit .400 and reached base safely 6 out of 9 plate appearance.

Will Adams had a .556 on base percentage and scored 3 runs.

Evan Swindell had a .429 on base percentage and knocked in 2 runs while scoring 4.

Jon Doko played just Sunday and had a key hit while scoring a run and knocking in 1.