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Rebellion showed progress in ’15

6 min read
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After a long season managing the Pennsylvania Rebellion in the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, Craig Montvidas needs some time to clear his mind.

So he is going to do what most managers do when deciding their future.

He’s going back to his home in the Netherlands and paint his house.

Montvidas, the former Dutch National Team coach, went through a grueling 48-game regular season that ended with a 16-32 record, not good enough to get into the NPF Championship Series, which began yesterday in Hoover, Ala.

That disappointment was tempered by an 11-9 record over the final 20 games as the team finally appeared to improve. The Rebellion won seven more games than last season.

“I came in open-minded, not having seen that many NPF games, a few on TV and a few in person,” said Montvidas. “I was really trying to be cautious about my expectations for the team. … We didn’t get off to the start we hoped for. The most difficult transition was that in the beginning people just kept coming at different times. It was a train that started on May 10, when I arrived, and the first player showed up on the 13th. We had a small group of six and that went to eight, then 10, and right away we had practice games.”

It took Montvidas about half the season to adequately assess each player and determine an everyday lineup.

“It took us a while to find our DNA,” he said, “but once that happened … it was like having two seasons at once. Obviously, the second part was more rewarding when the wins starting showing up on the scoreboard.”

Montvidas admits that it stung that the Dallas Charge, a new entry into the NPF season, made the playoffs in their first season.

“It was like, wow, they came into the league and it’s their first year, so how did they make the playoffs?” Montvidas said. “We’re one year further and we didn’t. We split (the 12-game series) with them and we won the series against the third-place team (Akron), 7-5, but there were too many close games. I give a lot of credit to Dallas. If you look over the season, we were more consistent but they were able to find ways to beat the better teams.”

The Rebellion had the best fielding team in the league, shaved a run off the team ERA and improved the team speed (18 stolen bases), but the hitting was poor. The Rebellion had a .214 batting average and did not lead a single significant offensive category. Montvidas said next year’s draft will be important.

“We need to get a couple of bats in there,” said Montvidas. “The draft, yeah, we’ll look for offense.”

The team was nearly completely made over from last year as only six players remained. Two of them – starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo and catcher-outfielder Mandy Ogle – believe the team is headed in the right direction.

Escobedo said she intends to extend her contract for two more years, and Ogle says she is returning.

“We had a huge improvement over last year’s team,” said Escobedo, who cut 2 1/2 runs off her ERA but won only two games. “We have better all-round athletes, much more improved. I’ve improved. Just keeping these games close and not being blown out like last year, that’s a (180-degree turn) on its own. I have confidence in this team.”

The Rebellion lost 17 games by two runs or fewer, eight by one run. Last year, the Rebellion had five double-digit losses, including 18-2 at Akron, 17-1 at home against Chicago and 15-0 at Akron. This year, they had two – both in May – and finished by winning 11 of the last 20 games.

“All these close games … could be ours,” said Escobedo. “We just have to keep working on the little things to keep us going forward.”

The Rebellion went 5-3 in August and scored a combined 20 runs in the final two games of the season. That was as many runs as the previous seven combined.

“I think this year’s pitching staff was better and the hitting was better,” said Ogle. “I think it was like last year, where we couldn’t put it all together in the amount of time we had. I think a lot of people are staying on the team for next year. The more years you have the same players playing by your side, the better it’s going to be.”

Players had to adjust to a new coach in Montvidas, the third in the Rebellion’s short history. But Ogle didn’t see that as a problem.

“NPF teams typically gets a new coach every season and if they don’t, then they get one every two or three seasons,” she said. “Everybody has played with different coaches so players have to (adjust) to what they do and like.”

Still, the fact the Rebellion missed the playoffs and were passed by the first-year Dallas Charge, is frustrating. But Ogle thought it made the regular season better.

“Even though you don’t make it, everybody is going head to head,” said Ogle. “The difference between this year and last, not having everybody make the playoffs, it makes the regular season more competitive.”

Montvidas will submit a report on the season, offering his opinion on how to make the team better.

“We have a good foundation,” Montvidas said. “Now, we have to add a couple cornerstones to make it solid. That would mean getting over the .500 mark, then winning a championship.”

Montvidas said the Rebellion want him to return but there are other factors to consider before signing another contract. His one-year deal expired at season’s end.

“My wife has been positive about that,” he said. “I want to go back home and let the dust settle before making a decision. I want to make my decision by the middle of September. I think that would be fair. It could be quicker, but I won’t let it drag on.

“I had an enjoyable year. There are moments in the season when you think, ‘Why am I doing this? There has to be a better way to make a living.’ But I look at it and I know we made progress. I enjoyed it. There aren’t many jobs you can go to that’s outside and you can wear shorts and a polo shirt.”

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