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Tanner Graphenteeen
Eighth grader Krew Schneider made his playoff debut on the mound for the Rebels and earned his first playoff win as the Rebels defeated Edgerton/ SWC 12-2 in six innings at the Irish Yard outside of Milroy.
Schneider faced four batters in the top of the first. He gave up a lead off single, struck out the next batter and then picked off the leadoff batter for out number two at second base. This proved to be a big out, as the Dutchmen sent their three hitter up to the plate and he launched a solo shot over the left field fence. MCC got a ground out to end the inning on the next at bat.
The Rebels didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard themselves. In the bottom half of the first inning, Christian Tentinger singled, advanced to second on a passed ball, and to third on a wild pitch. Then Abe Paulzine singled to drive Tentinger in. Jaden Deacon came to the plate next and launched a double into left-center field to score Paulzine. MCC took a 2-1 lead into the second.
After a couple of walks to start the second inning, Scheider worked his way out of the jam by forcing a pop out, earning a strikeout, and forcing another pop out to end the inning. Shortstop Derek Kluis snagged both pop ups in the inning.
The Rebels put their potent offense back to work in the bottom half of the inning as Dylan Kluis led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a Krew Schneider double. Carter Benda singled home courtesy runner Teague Meyer. Derek Kluis hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Tanner Graphenteen, who reached on a fielder’s choice bunt. Gavin Gillette, courtesy runner for catcher Carter Benda, stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball, then immediately scored on a passed ball to put the Rebels up 5-1 after two.
A quick top of the third would have Schneider face only four batters and the Rebels put together another offensive threat, but scored no runs, leaving the bases loaded.
The top of the fourth was similar to the top of the third, as Schneider, again faced four batters, forcing a ground out and two pop flys to center fielder Jaden Deacon to earn the three outs.
The Rebels got two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning as Christian Tentinger smashed a double to left field, scoring Derek Kluis who had hit a single straight out into center field. Tentinger reached third on a passed ball and Jaden Deacon hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Tentinger.
Going into the top of the fifth the Rebels had a 7-1 lead. Edgerton/SWC tacked on one more run in the fifth. Four walks between Scheider and relief pitcher Derek Kluis scored the second run. Kluis then proceeded to strike out the next two batters to get the Rebels out of the inning.
MCC scored three more runs in the bottom half of the fifth to go up 10-2. Tentinger crushed another double, scoring Krew Schneider and Gavin Gillette. Derek Kluis hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring his brother Dylan.
Derek earned two more strikeouts in the top of the sixth and forced a ground out to Connor DeGreeff at second base for the 1-2-3 inning.
MCC scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the 12-2 victory, as Gavin Gillette pinch hit and drove in Jaden Deacon. Pinch hitter Teague Meyer hit a ball to the hole and scored Gavin Gillette from third base. Gillette had advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch, before Meyer would bring him in on the infield single.
MCC will be back in action on Thursday night in the Irish Yard at 7pm where they will take on CMCS for the opportunity to advance and be one of four teams standing come Saturday.
