Rebellion struggle for runs, fall to Pride
The Rebellion’s Mandy Ogle catches a pop fly during the top of the fourth inning against the USSSA Pride Saturday in the opening game of a doubleheader ar Consol Energy Park.
Rebellion catcher Kristyn Sandberg talks with pitcher Dallas Escobedo during the top of the second inning in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Consol Energy Park.
The growing pains of the Pennsylvania Rebellion can be seen in a key stat: runners left on base.
Not only have the Rebellion made a habit of leaving runners on base, they leave them in scoring position, either second or third base.
In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the USSSA Pride, the Rebellion stranded nine players. They had a runner left at second base in the first three innings, one at third in the fourth and one at second base in the fifth. None scored.
That helped explain, in part, why the Rebellion were shut out by Keilani Ricketts and the Pride, 5-0, at Consol Energy Park in front of 1,528 fans.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Chelsea Thomas tossed a two-hitter and did not allow a run as the Pride finished the sweep with a 2-0 victory. The loss extended the Rebellion’s scoreless streak to 20 innings.
The loss in the first game was the 11th straight for the Rebellion and made the upcoming four-game homestand this week vital to their playoff hopes. Only four of the five teams in the National Pro Fastpitch softball league get into the Championship Series.
If the Rebellion can produce runs rather than frustration in those situations, they might have a good chance of securing that No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
“I can see where our hitters are getting a little hard on themselves with getting outs when there are runners in scoring position,” said catcher Kristyn Sandberg. “We need to find a way to get on base and get those runners on base to score.”
Sandberg has been on both sides of issue, playing last season with the Pride, who are the defending NPF champions and a very efficient team.
“I try to take a similar approach each time I come up with runners in scoring position,” Sandberg said. “I try to look for a pitch I can drive the other way.”
Sandberg said making the switch from college to pro is tough. It can be tougher with a roster such as the Rebellion’s, where 12 of the players are rookies and seven are in their second year with the NPF.
“When you make the jump from college to pro, the game changes,” said Sandberg. “Everything is better. The hitting is better, the fielding is better and the pitching is better. It’s an adjustment period. You are not putting up the numbers other players have.”
The Pride scored a run in the first and two in the second inning against starter Dallas Escobedo, who did not have one of her sharper games. Escobedo threw 89 pitches in five innings, and gave up four earned runs and six hits.
Escobedo’s wild pitch allowed Natasha Watley to score from third base in the first inning. In the second inning, Escobedo gave up a two-run homer to Gionna DiSalvatore, the Pride’s No. 9 hitter, to make it 3-0.
“I don’t consider myself a home run hitter; I consider myself a contact hitter,” said DiSalvatore, a five-year veteran of the NPF. “Home runs for me are usually mistakes. I’m never trying to do it. I have about 20 home runs in my career. I hit 10 in 2012.”
The Pride added two more runs later in the game. Madison Shipman drove in a run with a single in the fifth and Brigette De Ponte knocked in a run off relief pitcher Dagmar Bloeming in the seventh on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.
Ricketts raised her record to 5-1 with the complete game shutout, striking out eight and walking one. The Rebellion have been shut out eight times this season and scored only one run in a game twice.
In the second game, Kelly Kretschman hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and pinch-runner Breja’e Washington scored on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning.
Thomas struck out five and did not walk a batter. Emily Weiman took the loss, giving up three hits, two runs, striking out four and walking one.