The Rivercrest Rebels expected a dogfight in the new District 17-2A and its number of teams with proud baseball playoff traditions. Rivercrest is in the thick of the hunt in a district that will likely come down to the final weeks of play.
The Rebels traveled to Linden to meet Linden- Kildare, falling just short in a tough luck 5-4 loss. The Tigers scored all five runs in the second inning.
Dylan Earley had two hits. Chance Duffer, Mark Grider, Connor Young, Ethan Taylor, Cayden Williams and Gus Johnson all had hits on the night. Grider and Taylor each had RBIs. Grider, Young and Zane Dees all scored for Rivercrest.
Taylor finished with four strikeouts from the mound. The Rebels hit the road again in their next game, traveling to McLeod to meet the Longhorns. Rivercrest had another hard luck game, finishing with more hits (13 to five) and fewer errors than the Longhorns, but McLeod won on a walk-off, 6-5.
The Rebels got big games from Dees, Earley and Chase Duffer. Dees and Chase Duffer hit back to back home runs and Earley had three hits, a double and a run scored. Dees finished with two RBIs. Grider, Young, Williams, Johnson and Taylor all had hits.
Young and Grider combined to strike out 10 – five each.
The Rebels bounced back against local rival Harts Bluff, finishing with 17 hits in a 23-3 win over the Bulldogs.
Young and Williams each had three hits while Dees, Grider, Taylor, Chance Duffer and Gatlin Galloway all finished with three hits. Young and Chance Duffer each had three RBIs and Dees, Williams, Grider and Chase Duffer each finished with two RBIs. Galloway, Taylor and Cason Fields all had an RBI.
Taylor struck out seven and Chance Duffer struck out three in relief.
Rivercrest is 6-3 in district play. Their three district losses have all come by one run and two have come via walk-off.
Rivercrest is off until Saturday when they host Miller Grove.