The Rebels, runners up to the Quarren Schjang 40 Plus Softball League nine-time defending champions Just For Fun, showed that they may just be the team to beat this season after walloping the champs 15-5 Sunday in five innings at the Renholdt Jackson Sport Complex.
Paul Christian pitched a strong game, limiting Just for Fun to only five runs over five innings of work.
Batting first, the Rebels got on the board with two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run blast off the bat of Mario Christian to take the early lead. JFF answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning on a three-run shot off the bat of Reuben Malloy and a Rebels error.
The Rebels picked up a run on Hector Torres’ RBI single to close to within one run of the lead at 4-3 in the top of the second inning. JFF had no answer in the bottom of the inning.
The Rebels then took the lead for good at 7-4 in the top of the third inning, erupting for four runs on a three-run double by David Clarke and an RBI single off the bat of Mario Christian. JFF could only muster a lone run on an RBI single by Eustace Davis in the bottom of the inning, and they trailed 6-5 after four completed innings. They would not score again.
The Rebels went on to add three runs in the top of the fourth on a three-run home run off the bat of Edwin Derweer, and five in the top of the fifth, to take a 15-5 lead. They scored five runs on a two-run single by Collin King, an RBI double off the bat of Derweer and two JFF errors. The champs came to bat in the bottom of the inning needing to score at least one run to avoid enforcement of the 10-run mercy rule, but they came up empty and the game was called.
Paul Christian got the win on the hill for the Rebels, while Mario Ortiz got the loss. Top batters for the Rebels were Derweer, 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs; Clarke, 3 for 3 with three RBIs; and Mario Christian, 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. For, JFF Malloy went 1 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs; Davis 1 for 3 with an RBI; and Raymond Cintron 3 for 3.
