Rebels Advance to State Semi-Finals

The Central Private Rebels have moved into the MPSA state semi-finals and the South State Championship series with a 17-9 slugfest victory over the Simpson Academy Cougars on Thursday night.  After a three hour bus ride the Rebels came out swinging and cruised to the series sweep.  Taylor Ort pitched 4.3 innings for the victory and Thomas finished the ball game for the Rebels.
The Rebels wasted little time in jumping out to a 3 run lead as they pushed three runs across in the top of the first.  Gage Wilkinson and Jacob Fryoux opened the game with back to back singles and Thomas Bourgeois drew a walk before Brennan Courville singled Wilkinson for the first run.  Seth Stevens, who was 4 for4 on the evening with 3 runs scored and 4 RBI, was hit with an 0-2 pitch to score Fryoux. Bourgeois was sent home on a single by Logan Lewis. Wilkinson and Fryoux scored again in the second on a single by Stevens.
Simpson made a strong comeback in the bottom of the second on a grand slam by Marc McMillian, tying the game at 5.  A single by Chase Metz put the Rebels back on top in the third as Lewis raced home.  Another home run by the Cougars evened the score in the bottom of the inning.
The Rebels were able to get a little breathing room in the fourth as they tallied four runs in the inning.  Lewis and Stevens again provided the big blows.  A 5 run fifth inning added the clinching runs for the Rebels.  Bourgeois hit his state leading 12th home run and Lewis hit his first as the Rebels took a 15-6 lead.  They would add 4 more in the sixth on doubles by Bourgeois and Stevens and singles by Travis Rose and Courville.  Steven Capistran finished the ball game with a home run to make the final score 17-9.
The Rebels open the South State Championship at Rebel field on Tuesday night at 6:00 as they continue their march for their fifth straight state championship.