Houston gets best of Rebellion in 9
These baseball-softball doubleheaders don’t seem to work out for the Pennsylvania Rebellion.
Two years ago, the Rebellion played the first game in the double-bill and the game lasted a whopping 17 innings against Chicago that ended in a 10-7 loss. The length of the game forced the gates to be opened for the fans lining up to get in to watch the Wild Things.
On Sunday, the Rebellion played the second game this time and things didn’t go much better.
A downpour stopped the Wild Things game after six innings in an 8-0 victory for Washington. The Rebellion came on two hours later to play the Houston ScrapYard Dawgs and went nine innings before falling 3-1.
Amanda Chidester cracked a two-run home run off Rebellion reliever Haylie Wagner in the top of the ninth to win it.
“They made some good defensive plays, too,” said Rebellion head coach Craig Montvidas. “We didn’t hit the ball hard that often and it went right at people. We’ll come back (Monday). That’s the idea.”
While Monica Abbott, fresh from signing a $1-million, 6-year contract with the ScrapYard Dawgs last month, was cheering from her Twitter account because she is still with her Japan league team and won’t be with the NPF team until next week.
Sara Nevins, a hard-throwing left-hander, threw like, well, a million dollars as the ScrapYard Dawgs won the first game in franchise history. She threw more than 100 pitches, all nine innings and allowed just one run.
“It means a lot (to win these games while Abbott is out),” said Nevins. “Everyone is working together and that’s nice to see. We want to have a good record so when Monica gets here, we can just keep going.”
The Rebellion (2-3) took a 1-0 lead before most of the seats were wiped clean of the rain water. Kayla Winkfield laid down a good bunt and Houston third baseman Britt Vonk fired it past first base and down the right-field foul territory. Winkfield ended up on third and scored
Emily Weiman was sailing along for the Rebellion until the sixth inning when the ScrapYard Dawgs tied the scored and ruined her night. Britt Vonk opened the inning on a hot shot to third base that ricocheted off Whitney Arion and rolled into foul territory, allowing Vonk to reach second base. It was scored an error. One out later, Kiki stokes singled Vonk to third base and Nerissa Myers drove her in with fielder’s choice.
“Whitney was a tough play,” said Montvidas. “I don’t know if that was an error. Then the ball kicks over. That’s the disadvantage of a bigger field.”