The Abilene Rebels baseball team got back on the diamond, after a week off from playing, by hosting Chapman for a double-header Thursday night. The Rebels came out very flat and struggled in the opener, losing 9-4 but came back to win the nightcap 11-3.
In Game One, Chapman got on the scoreboard first in their first at-bat as the lead-off batter reached on an error, stole second, and later scored on a fielder’s choice. Abilene would tie the game in the second inning as Wyatt Youtsey led-off with a single and stole second. He would later score on a single by Trey Hoerner.
The third inning would prove to be pivotal as Abilene would struggle to throw strikes and Chapman would score eight runs on only one hit, but six walks, and three errors to take the 9-1 lead. That would be all the offense Chapman would have in the game, but it would be enough. The Rebels didn’t have much more offense either until their last-at bat in the seventh inning. They would get three runs with two outs as Tim Mateer singled, Dakota Faulkner walked and later scored, Garrett Davis singled to drive in a run and he later scored on an error. It wouldn’t be enough and the final would be 9-4 in favor of Chapman.
“This game was a lot like Game Two at their place earlier this season, where we just couldn’t pitch a strike. That third inning was hard to watch…we need to throw strikes. I would much rather have the other teams hit than us give them a free base,” Abilene coach Billy Hansen said. “13 walks is just way too many when they only have four hits,” Hansen continued.
Offensively for Abilene, Davis was 1-1 with a run scored and an RBI, Hoerner went 2-3 with two stolen bases, and an RBI, McCord was 2-3, Youtsey went 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base, Mateer was 1-3 with a run scored, and Jurgensen and Mills both went 1-3. On the mound for the Rebels, Tate Berry went two and a third innings striking out none, walked six, allowed two hits, and six earned runs. Noah Wildman went four and two-thirds innings striking out two, walked seven, allowed two hits, and one earned run.
In the second contest of the night, Abilene again got one across the plate in their first at-bat as McCord led off with a walk, stoles second base, and scored on a sacrifice by Youtsey. The next offense would come in the fourth inning as Chapman took the lead on two hits, two walks, an error, and a balk. The Rebels opened the game up in their half of the fourth with seven runs as Trenton Jurgensen led-off with a double, Berry singled and stole second, Youtsey doubled to drive in two, Colton Mills singled driving in a run, Jovanny Garcia double driving in a run, Noah Wildman walked to bring in a run, Davis singled to drive one in, McCord walked to bring in a run, and Jurgensen walked bringing in a run. The Rebels led 8-3 after four innings.
The fifth inning would see Chapman go down in order. Abilene added to their lead in their half of the inning as Colton Mills singled and later scored on an error, Garcia singled, Hoerner singled to drive in two for the 11-3 lead. That is how the game would end as lightning was getting closer to the area.
“We were better this game but still not where we need to be. Colton made three great catches in left including one in foul ground that he caught while running to the fence and then flipping over it while grabbing the ball outside of the field of play,” Hansen said. “Trenton pitched well for us in this game too,” Hansen continued.
On the mound for the Rebels, Jurgensen went the distance striking out two, walked five, allowed just two hits, five walks, and two earned runs. Offensively for the Rebels, Garcia went 3-3 with two runs scored and a RBI, Mills went 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, Berry was 2-3 with a run scored and a stolen base, Youtsey was 1-2 with a run scored, a sacrifice, and three RBI, Jurgensen went 1-2 with a run scored, a walk, and an RBI, Hoerner and Davis were both 1-3 and with three RBI between them.
Abilene, now 7-3, will next be in action Sunday, July 5th for a three-team double-header. Haven will play Abilene at 1:00 p.m., then Herington will play Haven, and then Abilene will play Herington. A couple of games will probably be scheduled for next week though.