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Rebellion eliminated from playoff contention

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While they might not have known it until Monday, the Pennsylvania Rebellion’s 2-0 loss to the Akron Racers Sunday afternoon eliminated them from the National Pro Fastpitch League Championship Series.

The loss left the Rebellion two games back with two games to play. Had the two teams tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition, but the Rebellion and Charge split their 12-game series.

It was the language of second tiebreaker that brought about the debate. Rebellion officials said the NPF manual said the second tiebreaker is record against the “next best team.” They believed it was Akron, the No. 3 team and not league-leader USSSA Pride.

But NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf said the manual is “quite clear. It’s the Pride. The Rebellion won one game against them and the Charge won three.”

A phone message left for Rebellion general manager Steve Zavacky was not immediately returned.

Rebellion manager Craig Montvidas said Kempf emailed him Sunday night.

“She said according to NPF rules, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head and then you look to the team with the best record,” Montvidas said.

Dallas took care of matters later Monday night by beating Chicago, 3-0, to mathmatically eliminate the Rebellion.

The Rebellion scored a franchise-record tying nine runs to win at Akron, 9-5, Monday night for their 15th win of the season.

Whitney Arion drove in four runs with a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie. Arion finished the game with four RBI.

Alisa Goler had three hits and scored twice for Pennsylvania, while Hanura Sakamoto also homered.

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