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Both teams were strong on the mound Monday, but the Rebels defeated the A/E Dragons 3-1 in the Red Rock showdown.
Dylan Kluis earned the victory for MCC as the lefty went six and a third innings, allowing one run on two hits and struck out five batters. Abe Paulzine would throw two-thirds of an inning in relief to earn the save.
There was not a lot of offensive action in this game as neither team would bring more than four batters to the plate until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Dragons brought up five.
The Rebels went down onetwo-three in the top of the fifth followed by a one-two-three inning defensively for the Rebels in the bottom half of the frame.
The Rebel offense found a spark in the top of the sixth as Carter Benda led off with a single to right field. Benda then stole second, but a Derek Kluis ground ball to the pitcher ended up in Benda being tagged out trying to advance to third. Kluis hustled his way to second on the same play. Christian Tentinger came to the plate next and delivered a single to left field advancing Kluis to third base.
Abe Paulzine stepped into the batter’s box next and got hit by a pitch to load the bases. If the Rebels were going to score this would be the time to do it. Bases loaded, one out, top of the sixth inning. Jaden Deacon stepped to the plate and took ball one. On the next pitch Deacon delivered and hit a single to center field, scoring Derek Kluis from third. All runners advanced and it gave the Rebels the first run and first lead of the game.
Connor DeGreeff stepped up to the plate next. DeGreeff saw three pitches before smacking the ball into left field and driving in two more runs for the Rebels. Christian Tentinger and Abe Paulzine both scored. Unfortunately, Jaden Deacon would be tagged out trying to advance to third base, putting DeGreeff at first with two outs. Dylan Kluis delivered another single for the Rebels before the rally ended with a fly out to the first baseman in the next at-bat.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Dragons got a lead off walk, followed by a fielder’s choice ball hit to shortstop Gavin Gillette. He cut down the lead runner at second base. Carter Benda threw out a potential base stealer and Kluis then strikeout the next batter to end the inning.
The Rebels got one base runner on in the top of the seventh as Derek Kluis got hit by a pitch, but that was all for the offense. The Dragons put together an interesting inning in the bottom half of the seventh.
The lead off batter reached on an error to start the inning before the next hitter was thrown out on a ball hit to third. A walk followed next, putting runners on first and second base with one out. A single drove in the first run for the Dragons. A pitching change would ensue, as Abe Paulzine was asked to close the door on the ball game.
He created a ground out to shortstop Gavin Gillette for the second out and earned the save with a strikeout to end the threat, the inning, and the ball game.
With the win, the Rebels have at least a share of the Red Rock Conference Championship!
