by Mitchell Ross, NPF
York, PA — The Pennsylvania Rebellion and the Akron Racers battled Wednesday night at People’s Bank Park in York, PA, in the second game of a two-game series to start the National Pro Fastpitch Season. The Rebellion picked up their first win of the season by defeating the Racers by a final score of 7-5.
The Rebellion got the bats going in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Left Fielder Alexa Peterson’s RBI single scored Catcher Kristyn Sandberg from second for the game’s first run. The Rebellion extended the lead to 3-0 when Right Fielder Victoria Hayward came up with a two out, 2-run triple that scored Designated Player Mandy Ogle and Shortstop Whitney Arion. Pennsylvania added made it a four run inning when Third Baseman Raven Chavanne added another RBI single scoring Hayward to make it 4-0 Rebellion.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Kristyn Sandberg found her power once again when she crushed a 2-run homer well over the left field fence. Sandberg and fellow teammate Victoria Hayward were named Co-Powerhandz Players of the Game for their 2 RBI performances.
Starting Pitcher Miranda Kramer had no trouble getting through the first 3 innings for the Rebellion as she faced the minimum, allowed no hits, and struck out five. She did, however, run into trouble in the top of the 4th. Three straight base knocks to start the inning pushed across the first run of the game for the Racers. After a sacrifice fly off the bat of Left Fielder Shellie Robinson scored a run, Shortstop Sam Fischer launched her first home run of the young season and cut the Rebellion lead to 6-4.
The Rebellion were able to add an insurance run in the bottom half of the 4th. Whitney Arion reached base after she was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game and came across to score when rookie Second Baseman Kayla Winkfield got her first RBI with a two out double to right centerfield.
Rebellion Pitcher Emma Johnson, who entered the game in relief of Miranda Kramer in the 4th, ran into some trouble in the 5th. She gave up a base hit then walked two straight to load the bases with only one out. Haylie Wagner entered the game and was able to get out of the jam by striking out the Racers Sam Fischer and getting Jen Gilbert to fly out to left field.
In the top of the 7th, Akron tried to start a rally when Right Fielder AJ Andrews led off with a single. She would advance all the way to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt from Second Baseman Ashley Thomas and proceeded to score on an RBI groundout by Centerfielder Taylor Schlopy. Schlopy’s second RBI of the night cut the Rebellion lead to 7-5. That would be your final score when Haylie Wagner was then able to record a fly out to centerfield off the bat of Shellie Robinson for the final out of the game.
Miranda Kramer (1-0) picked up the win for the Rebellion with 3.1 innings pitched giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while striking out 5. The loss goes to Alison Owen (0-1), who gave up 6 runs in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Rebellion will be back in action on Friday, June 3rd, when they face the Dallas Charge at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, PA.
About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.
Note to Media
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