ATLANTA—Columbia, South Carolina’s Midlands Rebels boast a dynamic roster for Perfect Game’s 15U East Cobb Invitational.
The Rebels faced the Sox Baseball Club in its first game of the tournament Monday, and are equipped to go deep into the week with a roster that has seven two-way players.
Although they struggled in the first game of the tournament, with a 10-3 loss going up against a strong combined four-hit outing by the Sox’s pitching staff, depth does not seem to be an issue on the mound or in the field for a Rebels team surrounded by tough competition.
“It helps for sure [to have so many two-way players,] but I think the most important thing though in these tournaments is pitching,” said head coach Bobby Haney. “All these guys can swing it down here, and have good bat speed. The most important thing for us is pitching, and we have deeper pitching this week.”
Contributing to the Rebel’s deep staff is Sam Swygert, who took the mound for Midlands in the opener and was shook up by a heavy-hitting Sox lineup; which confirmed Haney’s evaluation of the company the Rebels are up against this week in Pool C.
Swygert went three innings, giving up five earned runs off nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He is another one of the many Rebels who also lives at the infield corners and outfield when not on the mound.
Although it was a quiet day at the plate for Midlands, Jake Tanner is one of the team’s bigger offensive threats. Tanner splits time between the hot corner and first, but can also contribute on the mound. He had a strong offensive fall, and will be a key power bat to the Rebels’ lineup going forward.
“We have multiple games in a short amount of time, so you can’t just have some guys who can only pitch,” said Tanner. “It’s good because we can rely on each other to do multiple things, instead of just one.”
Tanner had one walk in two plate appearances and a stolen base, showing quickness and good instincts on the base paths.
Speed and the run game is somewhat of a hallmark for the brand of baseball the Midlands organization has promoted and developed over the last three years since its formation.
“Speed is awesome, and something that we look for [when putting together our teams—] that kind of puts pressure on 15 and 16 year olds. And like I said, pitching. You have to be stacked up front with starting pitching.”
The opportunities the Rebels did get on the base paths highlighted the team’s MO, as they put pressure on the defense with the run game.
Although the Sox were able to silence the Rebels’ bats with a slew of righties in starter Andrew Baldwin, who went two innings; and then about an inning of work each from relievers Noah Sweatman, Austin Whitaker, Andrew Villiger and Thomas Collins; 2B Andrew Bright, Alex Phillips and Bobby Robinson were able to produce the majority of Midlands’ offense. Both Bright and Phillips went 1-for-2, while Robinson had a 1-for-1 day with a walk.
The Rebels look to bounce back and highlight its run game and mound presence Tuesday, against the East Cobb Astros. Sam Massey will take the ball for the Rebels in a 9 a.m. matchup at the East Cobb Complex.