The FW Rebels went 1-1 in pool play, and then lost a heartbreaker in the first bracket play game to prematurely end their run in the 22-team tournament.  The Rebels originally were not scheduled to play this weekend but with some rainouts and the upcoming TSB World Series, they felt it was a good idea to get in some games.

Game 1

Texas Cannons Angus 6

FW Rebels 4

The tournament got underway in style as the Rebels scored 3 in the top half of the first inning.  Wyatt Baccus singled with one out and went to 3rd when Evan Smith reached on an error from the Cannons' third baseman.  Baccus scored the first run on an RBI ground out off the bat of Quentin Enos.  The red-hot Charlie Rusk singled in Smith to make it 2-0.  Rusk then stole 2nd, and went to 3rd on a throwing error by the Cannons catcher.  Then, the Cannons had a difficult time getting the ball back to the pitcher and Rusk came all the way around to score to make it 3-0.

For the most part, the Rebels bats grew silent after that, and Rebel pitchers proceeded to walk 5 Angus hitters while also plunking 3 more.  The Cannons scored 6 runs on just 3 hits. 

Wyatt Baccus blasted a 340-foot homer deep to left field in the 3rd inning but that was the end of Rebels scoring.

Game 2

FW Rebels 4

Dallas Tigers Micucci 3

The Rebels again scored 3 runs in the first inning after falling behind 1-0.  Evan Wainright led off the game with a walk.  With 2 outs, Caden Spurling walked.  That set the stage for Wyatt Baccus who boomed a double to left center to score Wainright and Spurling.  Baccus then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. 

The Rebels added a run in the 4th inning. Caden Spurling & Wyatt Baccus hit back to back singles.  Kameron Mantyh as the courtesy runner for Spurling scored on a sacrifice fly off of the bat of Evan Smith.

The score was 3-2 Rebels when Caden Spurling came on to pitch and he went 2.1 innings and allowed just 1 run.  Wyatt Baccus came on to get the save and the Rebels finished pool play 1-1.  They earned the #9 seed out of 22 teams.

Game 3

Dallas Patriots Porter 7

FW Rebels 6

The visiting Rebels scored a run quickly in the 1st.  Carlos Guerrero walked and then stole 2nd.  Wyatt Baccus doubled to left center to score Guerrero to make it 1-0.

Kameron Mantyh started on the hill for the Rebels and although he allowed 3-run homer in the first, pitched effectively.

The Rebels were losing 3-2 as they came to the plate in the 4th inning.  Coleman Peck lined a single to center to open the inning.  Caden Spurling followed with a walk and then Peck & Spurling pulled off a double steal.  Peck scored when the catcher's throw went into left field.  With two outs, Guerrero walked and the opposing manager elected to walk Baccus to fill the bases.  Evan Smith was up to the challenge hitting a hard bouncing ball to right center field that went all the way to the wall for a bases clearing 3-run triple. 

A Rebels error allowed the Patriots to score a run in the bottom of the 5th to make it 6-4.

In the bottom of the 6th with Baccus on the mound, the Patriots tied it at 6.  Then they filled the bases with none out.  Baccus did a remarkable job coming all the way back striking out the next two hitters, and getting the inning to end on a fly out to right fielder Kameron Mantyh.

That led to the California Rule for extra innings.  In a bizarre call, the Rebels Evan Wainright was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but the field umpire ruled Wainright leaned into the pitch on purpose and did not allow the hit by pitch to stand.  Ultimately, the Rebels would not score....and in the bottom of the 6th, Baccus was unable to pull another Houdini act and the Rebels fell 7-6.