We are just 13 games into the 2021 Spring season but the FW Rebels have already proven to be a team that doesn't crumble when adversity strikes as they compete and battle until the final out.  All 13 Rebels contributed to an incredible weekend in Mesquite, TX where the Rebels finished as the runner-up in the Silver Bracket in the USSSA 14U AAA Longhorn Launchfest tournament.  There were many many exciting moments which resulted in a 2-2 weekend.  Here are the game recaps:

Corinth Crushers 13

FW Rebels 2

The final score of this one is misleading.  The Rebels had a 2-0 lead going to the 4th inning and had the Crushers on their heels.  Corinth came into the game undefeated in USSSA AAA play an they did what all good teams do...capitalized on Rebel miscues. 

Wyatt Baccus started on the hill for the Rebels and was sensational for the first 3 innings. Then the Rebels defense failed him in the 4th inning as they committed 3 errors that contributed to 6 Crusher runs.  The Rebels bats went silent after scoring 2 runs in the first inning and that was basically the game with the Crushers winning 13-2.

Evan Wainright's clutch 2-out RBI single made the score 3-1 in the 1st game Sunday.

FW Rebels 5

Texas Sox Sykes 14U AAA  1

Evan Smith started on the mound for the Rebels and was magnificent.  Smith tossed 5 innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 unearned run while striking out 5.  Quentin Enos relieved in the 6th to close out the game.

A key play in the game occurred in the 3rd inning. With the score tied at 1, and 1 out....Texas Sox had runners at 2nd and 3rd.  The leadoff hitter for the Sox lofted a fly ball down the left field line where left fielder Christopher Calabrese raced into foul territory for a sensational catch.  The Sox baserunner left 3rd way too soon and Calabrese through the ball in to Wyatt Baccus who stepped on 3rd for the inning ending double play keeping the score tied at 1-1.

The Rebels manufactured the go-ahead run in the top of the 4th with great fundamental baseball.  Evan Smith led off the inning with a walk, and then stole second.  Wyatt Baccus grounded to short enabling Smith to scamper to 3rd.  Quentin Enos then hit a fly deep to center enabling Smith to tag up and score to make it 2-1.  The next inning, Evan Wainright hit a clutch 2-out RBI single driving in Charlie Rusk who was courtesy running for Bryson Snow who led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Wainright's hit made it 3-1.  Then, in the 6th, Evan Swindell reached on a 1-out walk.  Jace Franke and Evan Smith both walked to fill the bases.  With two down Enos drew an RBI walk scoring Swindell.  Franke then added the 5th Rebel run when he scored on a wild pitch.

Smith did the rest shutting down the Sox bats and the Rebels were onto the Semis.

 Evan Swindell scores a run on a bases loaded walk by Quentin Enos to give the Rebels a 4-1 lead.

FW Rebels 6

Texas Redds 14U Black  4

This game had everything.  Controversial calls, great defensive plays, clutch hitting, and fabulous pitching.  It started out innocently enough with Evan Smith reaching on a 1-out single in the 1st.  Wyatt Baccus reached on a fielders choice that retired Smith at 2nd but Quentin Enos hit a booming double to right center scoring Baccus to make it 1-0.  Carlos Guerrero started on the mound for the Rebels and allowed 2 unearned runs in the 1st inning.  Still he was able to pitch out of a jam when he induced a beautiful 5-4-3 double play turned by Wyatt Baccus & Coleman Peck to end the inning. 

The score was 2-1 Texas Redds heading to the 3rd.  Kameron Mantyh led off with a single followed by a Caden Spurling walk.  With one out, Christopher Calabrese singled to left filling the bases.  Jace Franke hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Mantyh tying the game at 2.  Guerrero allowed a bloop single and walked 3 in the 3rd inning that scored 1 run giving the Texas Redds a 3-2 lead.

It was still 3-2 heading to the 5th inning when Coleman Peck walked.  Since Peck was now pitching, Charlie Rusk came in as the courtesy runner.  With two outs, Rusk moved up to second on a passed ball.  With Mantyh at the plate, the Redds catcher made a nice stop on the ball in the dirt and Rusk had wandered a little far off of 2nd.  The catcher threw to 2nd and while Rusk was attempting to get back to the base, the shortstop was in his way.  Rusk tried to go around the shortstop but by that point the shortstop had the ball and Rusk was called out.  Then the field umpire awarded Rusk third base since he determined the shortstop had interfered with Rusk's ability to get back to the base.  The opposing manager came to question the call and then two umpires got together.  This then caused the umpire who was 100 feet away from the play to overturn the umpire who was right on top of the play.  It was definitely a call that didn't go the Rebels way, and less teams could have crumbled there. 

However, great pitching from Coleman Peck and an incredible athletic play by Jace Franke turned the momentum.  Peck was pounding the strike zone  since entering the game.  With one out, the Redds had runners on 1st and 2nd.  The Redds batter hit a major league pop up in foul territory when second-basemen Jace Franke raced over towards the Rebel dugout to make the remarkable grab.  The runner on 2nd decided to tag up and try for 3rd.  Franke with all momentum going away from 3rd threw off balance and it was a one-hop strike to Wyatt Baccus who tagged out the runner to end the inning with the Rebels still down 3-2.

In the top of the 6th, Kameron Mantyh opened the inning with a single.  With two outs, Christopher Calabrese walked.  Jace Franke then singled in Mantyh to tie the game at 3.

Time was becoming an issue so Peck had to work quickly in the bottom of the 6th. A leadoff walk and a 1-out double gave the Redds a 4-3 lead but Peck got the last out of the inning before time had expired so the Rebels would have one last chance to score in the 7th down 4-3.

Then....the umpires raised their hands and said..."Ballgame".  Both teams were pretty confused while the Rebel coaches, players, and fans were pretty vocal in expressing their displeasure.  Luckily the tournament director saved the day by overruling the umpires who thought the game was supposed to be a 6-inning game....not 7.  So the Rebels would have one last chance.

Wildness hurt the Redds as their new pitcher walked Wyatt Baccus to open the inning and with one out Carlos Guerrero was hit by a pitch.  Charlie Rusk followed with a walk to fill the bases.  Bryson Snow hit a clutch single that the shortstop made a great stop on but he couldnt get an out as Baccus and a hustling Guerrero both scored on to make it Rebels 5 Redds 4.  Coleman Peck hit a grounder to short that retired Snow at 2nd but Charlie Rusk was able to score when the double play attempt failed.

Coleman Peck went out for his 4th inning in the bottom of the 7th with a 6-4 lead now. The first hitter singled and again the pressure was back on the Rebels.  Peck though, struck out the next hitter, got the following hitter to ground out to Jace Franke and 2nd, and then Peck snared a line drive right back to him to end the game.  A jubilant Rebels team celebrated.

NTX Rays 8

FW Rebels 3

It was obvious early on that both of these teams were battling fatigue.  The Rebel did open with a 2-run 1st inning though.  Jace Franke walked to open the game and scored all the way from first on an RBI triple from Wyatt Baccus. Baccus then scored on an RBI ground out from Quentin Enos. 

Jace Franke started on the mound and after all his baserunning and incredible plays on defense, you could tell he was a tad off.  He fought through a few batters and allowed 3 runs so it was 3-2 Rays after 1.  Caden Spurling came on to pitch and really did a great job keeping the Rebels in the game.

The Rebels were able to tie the game at 3 with a run in the 3rd.  With 1 out, Evan Swindell walked, and then stole second.  With two outs Jace Franke singled to center sending Swindell to 3rd.  Evan Smith then singled in Swindell making it 3-3 but the mini rally ended there. 

Spurling tired in his 3rd inning of work but still was fabulous in his 3 innings.  The Rays hustled for some infield singles and a clutch RBI triple put the game away.

Nothing to hang their heads over though.  The Rebels fought hard all day and once again came back from a disappointing tournament opener to walk away with a banner and some rings at the end.  Well done men.