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Rebels Win in Labor Day Tourney Opener

Posted by Mike Conry at Sep 4, 2009 3:32PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

Yaphank, NY – The Rebels started a new season and a new tournament on the right foot today beating the Connetquot Chiefs, 5-3, at the Baseball Heaven Labor Day Championships.

Nick 2 had an outstanding game setting the tone from the hill with a preponderance of first-pitch strikes and by staying ahead of Chiefs batters all day. He finished up throwing just 46 pitches over four complete innings of shut-out work with a five-run lead. Further, Nick helped himself in the third inning with a triple ripped through the left-centerfield gap and two-hopping the fence scoring Billy 20 all the way from first to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead. He also made a fine defensive play later in the game snagging a hard smash at first base on his backhand for an unassisted put out.

The Rebels offense did a pretty good job of putting balls in play forcing the Chiefs defense to convert. In the third inning with Nick on third base, Kevin 5 did a great job of getting the ball out of the infield driving a sac fly to rightfield. Later that inning with one man on, Mike 13 hit a ball in the direction of the Connetquot secondbaseman who couldn’t make the play and watched the ball roll to the wall in right-center. Mike came all the way around to score on the play capping a four-run inning and bringing the lead to 5-0 Rebels.

After they pushed a baserunner to third, the Chiefs half of the third inning was quickly defused by a very nice 3-3-2 double play involving Kevin 5 and Matt 11 to end the inning.

Both the Rebels and Chiefs went quietly in the fourth.

The top of the fifth saw the Rebels threaten with runners on second and third but unable to come up with the key hit to blow it open.

Mike then took the mound for the fifth and good pitching and defense rapidly dispatched the Chiefs.

After the Rebels failed to score in the top of the sixth, things got a little dicey in the bottom. After quickly grabbing the first out, some sloppy play by the Rebels combined with a few Chiefs hits — one an infield hit that shortstop Kevin 5 kept in the infield to save a run — saw the Chiefs plate three runs and put the tying run in scoring position.

Coach Sam gave Jack 8 the ball with men on second and third, two outs, and the score 5-3. After getting and staying ahead of the batter, Jack induced a ground ball to Kevin who threw over to Nick at first and put it in the books.

BBH tournament play continues tomorrow with a 10:00a game against the Suffolk Strikers at Levitt Ballfield Park in Centereach and a 12:00p game against the Longwood Lions at Baseball Heaven.

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Baltimore Field Trip?

Posted by Mike Conry at Sep 4, 2009 2:30PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

For those who are interested, Chris McCleneghan has done some recon on the Orioles/Bosox game for Friday night 9/18 at Camden Yards. He’s confirmed that plenty of seats are available including discounts for group sales of 12 or more with ticket prices starting at ~$20.

All groups purchasing 12 or more tickets will be seated together and will receive a Group Welcome on the Scoreboard.

The stadium is about a 40-minute drive from our hotel. Game time is 7:05p.

Participation by any and all has been blessed by Coach Sam who stated to me when I confirmed his approval of a potentially late night for the players, "I want the kids to have as much fun as possible".

All who are so inclined should confirm your interest to Chris ASAP and he will help quantify and coordinate the group effort.

Nancy Conry will be helping Chris pull this together, collecting $, etc.

We need to get this finalized tomorrow, Sat 9/5 so that we can provide the necessary lead-time to take advantage of the group offer. Chris and Nancy will be following up at the games tomorrow.

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Great Practice

Posted by Sam Acri at Sep 1, 2009 5:28PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

I was very happy with practice on Monday , everyone did a great job working on fundamentals.
We will be introducing 2 new drills this Thursday:
1) Bunting within two lines of cones.
2) Hitting Soccer Balls, this will reinforce hitting through the ball.

I am a very lucky coach to have such a talented group of players that allows me to work on such advanced skills at a young age.

Keep up the good work and be nicccccce

Coach Sam

North Bellmore, NY – The Rebels closed their summer season with a rousing, come-from-behind win over Merrick, 9-8, at Gunther field yesterday. The teams played a 9-inning consolation game after weather and re-scheduling conflicts caused the disappointing cancellation of these teams’ participation in what was to be the 1st Annual August Classic hosted by the Rebels.

The Rebels were clearly knocking the rust off after not having played a game in over two weeks. They trailed Merrick throughout most of the game and were behind as much as 8-2 in the 5th inning. The North Bellmore North Merrick team looked defeated both on the field, at the plate, and on the bench.

But slowly some fight returned to Rebels who clawed to within 8-4 by the end of the seventh.

Eric 4 came on to pitch a strong top of the eighth facing four batters, keeping the deficit at 4 runs and giving the Rebels a much needed boost.

The Rebels scratched out 3 more runs from productive at-bats in their frame to cut the Merrick lead to 8-7.

Matt 7, to inexplicable chants of "Be Niiieeeece!" from Coach Bob and the Rebels bench, threw an inspired and perfect top of the ninth, striking out the side and punctuating the full shift of momentum over to the Rebels.

Nick 2 led off the Rebels’ half of the ninth with a solid single to center — his third hit of the day — representing the tying run at first. Kevin 5 grounded out 1-3 moving Nick into scoring position. Mike 13 popped out to first for the 2nd out. Matt 11 stepped in, flashed a fake bunt, and Nick stole third on the first pitch. Matt then singled hard to right-center field to drive in the tying run and represented the winning run on first. Matt 7 came up, was beaned on an 0-1 pitch, and hustled down to first, forcing the winning run into scoring position. In a savvy display of strategic prowess, Coach Al replaced Matt 11 at second for pinch runner Mike 13, invoking the speed-up rule for his catcher should the game go to extra innings.

That brought Kevin 38 to the plate who — shades of the ‘86 Mets — hit a ball toward first that was misplayed by Merrick’s first baseman and skipped toward the rightfield line. Mike 13 broke hard from second and never slowed, rounding third as Kevin legged it out safe at first. The throw home was half a step too late as Mike slid under the tag scoring the winning run.

The Rebels look to carry this momentum into next weekend where they’ll participate in the always-competitive Labor Day Championship Tournament at Baseball Heaven.

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"August Classic" Tournament Canceled

Posted by Mike Conry at Aug 28, 2009 12:13PM PDT ( 1 Comment )

Due to uncooperative weather and insufficient calendar for rescheduling, the 1st Annual August Classic tournament (8/28-8/31) has been canceled.