by CHARLES DEE
The 2013 Rebel baseball team wrote a new chapter in the Hays High book of playoff victories with a thrilling rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to sweep the Clemens Buffalos in the regional quarterfinal series.
Rebel highlights were few and far between in the first six innings as Clemens pitcher J.J. Elkins held the Rebs in check while the Buff offense built a 4-0 lead with two runs in the first, a run in the third and seemingly an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
But the Rebels, who went nine consecutive games decided by the last at-bat during the season, did not give up. Trailing 4-0, Justin Montana drew a leadoff walk. Alex Robles looped a single to right. Two on, nobody out and a glimmer of hope rippled through the Reb dugout. J.C. Cerda moved Montana to third with a ground ball that forced Robles out at second. Pinch runner Gibson Hatch stole second with Granger Studdard at bat. Studdard was safe at first on a Buff miscue that allowed Montana to score and left runners at first and third for cleanup hitter Dalton Niles. Score now 4-1, Niles ripped a double off the wall that plated Hatch and moved Studdard to third.
With the score at 4-2, the tension of the moment had the crowd in a frenzy. Clemens changed pitchers to face Devin Palm, who greeted him with a seeing eye ground ball that eluded the glove of the third baseman to score Studdard.
An alert Athen Schultz, running for Niles, sprinted home with the tying run when the Buffalo throw to the plate skipped away from the catcher. With the score sitting at 4-4, with Palm on first, Nate Scott added to the excitement with a single to move Palm to third.
Clemens chose to intentionally walk Justin Diaz and brought Adrian Acosta to the plate with the bases loaded, one out, and the winning run at third. Acosta battled to a 2-2 count, fouled off strike three twice and delivered a clean single up the middle to start the Rebel pandemonium of a 5-4 victory.
Acosta also relieved starter Alec Swofford in the third and allowed no earned runs and a single hit through 4 and 2/3 innings to gain the win on the mound.
The Rebels earned a berth in the regional semifinals for the fourth time in school history and will face perennial power Corpus Christi Moody.
The Regional semi-final round will be played at San Antonio Burbank High School. Game one is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and game two, and if necessary game three, will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday.
