MCC vs. Wabasso Rebels win 6-5
The MCC Rebel Baseball team started the Section 3A baseball tournament as the number one seed on Saturday. As the top seed, the Rebels hosted their portion of the bracket, which included the Rebels matchup with Wabasso, the 8th seed, followed by 4th seeded Edg/SWC against 5th seeded Minneota Vikings. The day would come to an end with a third game between the two winning teams that would begin the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The Rebels would have to beat the Wabasso Rabbits and it would be an amazing game.
The Wabasso Rabbits came into the playoffs with just four wins on the year. The Rabbits are led by senior Joe Leibl who is a four-year varsity player and the best pitcher the Rabbits have. The left-hander had it working on Saturday, first at the plate, where he doubled in the first inning to left field with two outs and scored on a single to left field by Jay Remiger to give the Rabbits the early 1-0 lead. Leibl got a single later in the game which drove in the second run of the game. The Rabbits went on to lead 5 to 1, heading to the bottom of the 7th inning.
The MCC offense struggled in this game, as Leibl was throwing strikes and getting good defense played behind him. Leibl allowed the Rebels to get two hits, while walking 5 and striking out 10 batters in six innings. He allowed just one run in his six innings and escaped from a couple of jams, like in the first inning, the Rebels had the bases loaded, but failed to score. MCC was down 5 to 1 heading to the bottom of the 7th inning. Leibl had used up all of his pitches and had to be replaced. The Rebels came to the plate in the bottom of the 7th facing left-handed freshman Cason Olson. Dylan Kluis walked to start the inning and Krew Schneider reached base on an error. Owen Gillette hit a ground ball to SS and an errant throw allowed both Kluis and Schneider to score. Gillette would end up at second base, making the score 5 to 3. The Rebels loaded the bases on a Dugan Kluis single and a walk to Cayden Veldhuisen. Carson Lewis grounded into a fielder choice, which scored a run, while putting runners on the corners in a 5 to 4 game. Gavin Gillette reached base on another fielder’s choice as Kluis was thrown out at the plate. Gillette advanced to second base, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Teague Meyer hit a line drive to center field and the Rabbits did not make the catch. Both base runners scored on the walk-off base hit by Teague Meyer. The Rebels got the win 6-5.
It was a crazy finish to a baseball game, as the pitch count got the best of Joe Leibl and the Rabbit’s second and third pitchers couldn’t finish the game. Krew Schneider and Teague Meyer pitched for the Rebels and the duo allowed 9 hits, walked 1, and hit 1. The Rebels finished the game with just 5 total hits in the game. Dugan Kluis had 2 of the hits. Teague Meyer, Aidan Dierks, and Owen Gillette each had one. Teague Meyer was credited with the win in relief and he had the walk off base hit. The Rebels advanced to the double elimination portion of the tournament where they faced Minneota who beat Edgerton Southwest Minnesota Christian. MCC vs. Minneota Rebels win 3-0
The MCC Rebels beat the Wabasso Rabbits in a thrilling come-from-behind win on Saturday but they were not done. The Rebels then played the Minneota Vikings in the third game of the day. The Rebels needed a big rally to win their first game, while the Vikings dominated their game with the Edgerton Southwest Minnesota Christian Flying Dutchmen winning 8-0 in a no-hitter by Ryan Dalager. The Rebels were the only top seed to win in the South Subsection on Saturday, as the 6th and 7th seeded teams advanced with Minneota the 5 seed. The Rebels wouldn’t need a big rally to get the win over Minneota, but they did need some crucial pitches and defensive plays to pick up the win.
This game was a pitcher’s duel between Peyton Shiek of the Vikings and Dylan Kluis of the Rebels. It was the MCC offense that struck quickly, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Aidan Dierks singled with one out in the inning and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the Vikings. He scored on a base hit by Dylan Kluis. Carson Lewis ran for Kluis and advanced to second base on a passed ball by the Vikings. After a lineout by Krew Schneider, Owen Gillete hit a run-scoring single with two outs to put the Rebels up 2-0 after one. The Rebels added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Cayden Veldhuisen walked to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jesse Klein. Teague Meyer singled to the deep hole between 3rd base and shortstop. The Rebels threatened with base runners throughout the game, but would settle for 3 runs.
The MCC Rebels sent the junior Dylan Kluis to the mound and he pitched his best game of the season. Kluis kept the Vikings off balance with 7 strikeouts in six innings. Kluis walked 2 and hit 2, but he was able to get the key ground ball or pop out to end innings and keep the Vikings off the scoreboard. Kluis would get into trouble in the seventh inning, loading the bases with no outs. Teague Meyer came in to relieve him and got a big strikeout and a ground ball in which the Rebels were able to get the runner at the plate on a force out. Dugan Kluis caught a towering pop fly at home plate to end the game, and the Rebels picked up the win 3-0.
Dylan Kluis got the win for the Rebels and Teague Meyer picked up the save in relief. The Rebels pitchers allowed just 2 hits in the game while only allowing one error. The Rebels were led at the plate by Dylan Kluis who had 2 hits and an RBI. Teague Meyer had a hit and an RBI while stealing 3 bases. Owen Gillette had a hit and a walk while driving in a run.
The Rebels will now play Tuesday night at Irish Yard near Milroy against the Lac Qui Parle Eagles from the North Subsection. The other winner’s bracket game will put the 7th seed from the south, RTR against the top team from the North, Dawson Boyd.
MCC vs. LQPV Rebels lose 16-5
The MCC Rebel Baseball team found their way back to Irish Yard near Milroy on Tuesday night for the winner’s bracket contests in Section 3A baseball. The Rebels took on the Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles the winner would advance to Saturday for a chance to get to the section final the loser would play Thursday to work their way through the losers bracket.
Clearly, it is easier to win a section if you can stay in the winners bracket but MCC would have to beat a good Eagles team. The Rebels would not have a big comeback in their bag of tricks Tuesday night like they did on Saturday.
The game would see zero runs scored in the first inning as neither team could push their base runners around to score but the game would turn in the second inning. LQPV would draw four walks and connect on four singles on their way to a 5 run top of the second inning. The Rebels struggled to throw the ball over the plate and the Eagles made them pay. The Eagles would not score in the third inning but would score 6 more runs in the top of the fourth inning with 5 singles, 2 walks, and 2 errors costing the Rebels. LQPV dominated the game as they were in firm control after the first inning. In the end the Eagles would score 16 runs.
MCC didn’t have much going for them on Tuesday as they fell behind big. MCC would score 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth innings with a double by Owen Gillette driving in 2 and a single by Teague Meyer scoring 1. In the bottom of the sixth, the Rebels would score two runs to extend the game with three hits and a couple of walks. Gavin Gillette would start the inning with a single which was followed by a Meyer double. The Rebels would score two on Aidan Dierks base hit. The Rebels would come up short 16 to 5.
The Rebels loss didn’t end their season but it does knock them to the losers bracket where they will play Thursday night at 7:00 pm at Yankee field in Milroy against Adrian Area. Krew Schneider took the loss for the Rebels in this game. At the plate the Rebels were led by Gavin Gillette, Teague Meyer, and Aidan Dierks who all had 2 hits each. LQPV was led by Dyllan Geiser who had 2 hits and 4 RBI’s in the game. The Rebels will look to bounce back Thursday night in Milroy.
