Rebellion improving but still at bottom
The victory total has improved each season.
The talent on the team has gotten better each year.
The results, however, have been the same each year for the Pennsylvania Rebellion: last-place finishes and no participation in the National Pro Fastpitch softball league’s championship series. The latter might not be as bad a situation as one might think.
The Rebellion (17-33) seemed to be pulling away from Washington with the decision at the beginning of the year that 10 of the 25 home games would be held at neutral sites. It was a sound financial move as the crowds were larger at places that provided a once-in-the-summer opportunity to see a professional women’s softball team compete.
Those neutral site games sent the Rebellion out of town and out of mind for long stretches. They had only one home game from June 23 to July 30. That’s not a good way to maintain name recognition in a town that has a number of other events fighting for entertainment dollars. And it’s devastating that the Rebellion don’t have their games broadcast on the radio or internet or that the only way to follow is with the live stats on the NPF website. A pay-for-view telecast package is offered by the NPF but doesn’t attract a wide audience in this area.
The 10 neutral site games scattered throughout the schedule attracted nearly 23,208 fans according to the NPF website.
The Rebellion earned only a percentage of the sales for those games and had to take on the travel costs to reach the sites in York, Lancaster, Salisbury, Md., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Rebellion’s 15 home games at Consol Energy Park generated 7,348 fans, actually not a bad number compared to the rest of the league. The Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs, who made news by signing Monica Abbott to a six-year, $1 million contract right before the season, drew approximately 7,500 for 25 home dates. And perennial power USSSA Pride had nearly 11,000 total, an average of about 1,300.
Complete totals aren’t available because some of the box scores were not posted on the NPF website.
Expect the Rebellion to continue their neutral site schedules in the future.
Not earning a spot in the championship was a disappointment, but also a money-saver. For whatever the reason, the NPF holds this event in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and so far, attendance has been poor. But the expense for a participating team is high, in the tens of thousands for air fare, lodging, food, etc. If the series drew 5,000 per game, it would be worth it. But that number is closer to 500.
On the field, the Rebellion improved in just about every category, not hard when the previous year’s team was at or near the bottom. The team batting average was .250, up 36 points from 2015, and fourth in the sixth-team league. The Rebellion became a quicker team, nearly doubling the stolen base total from 28 to 53 but they could improve on the power numbers of 33 home runs and 157 RBI, the latter statistic last in the NPF.
One of the biggest weaknesses on offense was clutch hitting. The Rebellion continue to leave way too many players on base.
The pitching staff was mediocre, finishing with a higher ERA than last year – 3.86 to 3.27 – but striking out 52 more batters. Dallas Escobedo had her best season since being drafted No. 1 two years ago in the Rebellion’s inaugural draft. She finished fifth in the league with a 2.62 ERA in 20 games and had 86 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings.
In Craig Montvidas, the Rebellion have a strong head coach who not only understands the game but knows how to motivate his players. His steady and calm style fits the league and the Rebellion should do what they can to bring him back.
If the Rebellion come back.
Every year, management – Stu Williams and his wife Francine – must decide whether to continue with a franchise that is not yet turning a profit. The decision will come within a month. The guess here is the team will return for another season.
Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com