Small mistakes costly to Rebellion in pair of losses
The grand experiment of playing five games with three teams at one site to begin the National Pro Fastpitch softball season is over, and the late-night exit polls revealed the winners of the weekend are the Chicago Bandits.
As for the Pennsylvania Rebellion and Akron Racers, they appeared to be evenly matched, though the former would gladly trade records with the latter.
Chicago remained undefeated by completing a sweep of a three-game series with the Rebellion in the opening game of Sunday’s doubleheader, defeating the host team 12-4. Akron then sent the Rebellion to their third consecutive loss by rallying with two late solo home runs for a 2-1 win in eight innings of the rain-plagued nightcap.
The Rebellion have a 1-4 record but have to be thinking they could easily be 3-2. About four pitches made the difference in a 2-0 season-opening loss Friday night and the gut-wrenching defeat to Akron (1-1) in the weekend finale.
“I don’t know if you can say those two games were there for the taking or not,” Rebellion manager Craig Montvidas said.
What the Rebellion know for sure is they were two outs away from a shutout win over Akron but Ashley Thomas, the No. 9 hitter in the Racers’ lineup, hit an unlikely solo home run to right field off relief pitcher Dallas Escobedo (0-1) to tie the score at 1-1. It was the first home run hit in the five games.
Following a five-minute rain delay, Akron cleanup hitter Haley Outman led off the top of the eighth with a solo homer to left field that gave the Racers a stunning come-from-behind win.
“You could say it was the two home runs, but to their credit, that was good hitting,” Montvidas said. “I don’t think we should be 3-2 because we have too many things to work on.”
The biggest problems for the Rebellion in the five-game stretch were inconsistency and a lack of timely hitting. The pitchers were inconsistent, not only from outing to outing but game to game. For example, Emma Johnson, a rookie from Kent State, lasted only 2 1/3 innings in a start Saturday night, then threw five shutout innings Sunday against Akron. She worked through the raindrops, both literally and figuratively, but left with a 1-0 lead despite giving up four walks.
Johnson was in position to get her first professional win in large part because the Rebellion’s defense was spectacular. After committing four errors against Chicago, the Rebellion turned in several plays worthy of television highlights. Third baseman Lara Andrews twice dove and snagged line drives, one leading to an unassisted double play. Center fielder Courtney Senas and right fielder Ashley Carter also made diving catches.
“We dodged some bullets in the first three innings,” Montvidas said. “It looks like the end of the game is where we lost it, but we were lucky to be leading because of the first three innings.”
Escobedo, the first overall pick in last year’s NPF draft who struggled in her first pro season, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning before Thomas hit the game-tying homer.
The two home runs allowed by Escobedo continued a trend from last year. Keeping the ball in the park was major problem for the former Arizona State standout during an 11-loss season.
“Dallas is a rise-ball pitcher, so maybe it has to be a little header or take something off of it,” Montvidas said. “You prefer it to be faster. It’s early in the season and maybe she’ll get some more pop on the ball.”
Pennsylvania took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Senas reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base and scored on a two-out single to left field by catcher Mandy Ogle.
In the opener, Chicago scored five runs in the top of the first inning and nine over the first three innings. The Bandits knocked out Rebellion starter Bryana Walker (0-1) after only two-thirds of an inning.
Brittany Cervantes led Chicago’s attack by going 3-for-3 with three runs, two doubles and two RBI. Amber Patton also had two doubles.
That was more than enough support for Chicago pitcher Tatum Edwards, who was traded from the Rebellion to the Bandits in the offseason. Edwards survived a shaky beginning to go six innings for the win against her former team.
“It was a little odd pitching against my old team. I have some really good friends over there,” Edwards said, “but once you get on the field it’s all business.”
Edwards gave up two runs in the first inning but then blanked the Rebellion until a two-run sixth.
The Rebellion are off until Wednesday when they begin a three-game series at the expansion Dallas Charge. It will be the first series in Dallas team history. The first two games will be played in McKinney, Texas, and the last game will be in Arlington.
“The season is a marathon, not a sprint,” Montvidas said. “We just have to get in position to make the playoffs. We did see a lot of good things in these games.”
The game against Akron was delayed for eight minutes in the second inning because of rain. … Two batters into the Chicago game, there were two delays because gusting winds blew down a section of the portable outfield fence. … The Rebellion will play only one more home series until mid-July. They host Chicago for a three-game series June 8-10.