Rebels Steal Two from the Dawgs

The Genesee Rebels stole two games from the North Prairie Dawgs on Sunday afternoon at Veteran's Park in North Prairie. Both teams and the umpires battled heat nearing or above 100 degrees in two closely contested ball games. The Rebels were able to secure a 9-4 victory in game one thanks to a few big innings and then pulled off a come-from-behind victory by scoring three runs in the top of the 7th inning to tie the game before winning in extras. The two wins vault the Rebels above the .500 mark on the season as they now sit securely in 6th place with an 8-7 record.

In game one, veteran Matt DeMarais took the mound for the Rebels and was his usual self. He pitched out of a first and third jam in the first inning but couldn't keep the Dawgs off the scoreboard for long as they plated a run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Rebels bounced back in the top of the 3rd when the first 6 batters of the inning reached base en route to a 4-run inning. North Prairie tried to claw back in the bottom half of the inning on two solo homers, but it wouldn't be enough as Genesee scored two more runs in the 5th and then three in the 6th to secure the victory. DeMarais kept the 5-9 hitters off balance all day as they combined to go 1 for 15 with only one of those 15 plate appearances reaching base. The Rebels were led offensively by Chris Elliott who went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Alex Kermendy, Lucas Bourassa, and Keith Koehn each notched two hits for the Rebels as well while Kyle Stasik crossed the plate 3 times in the opener.

Game two was a different story. It was North Prairie who jumped out to a first-inning-lead by scoring three runs on four hits and one Genesee error to put the Rebels in an early hole. Genesee would eventually tie the game in the top of the 4th when Matt Bauer came up with a clutch 2-out, 2-rbi hit. North Prairie wouldn't be outdone though by scoring one more in the 5th and then seemingly driving in the dagger with a two run single in the bottom of the 6th to take a 3-run lead. The top of the 7th proved to be as exciting as it gets in baseball. Chris Elliott led off with a single and moved up to second on a Kyle Stasik groundout. Lucas Bourassa, who entered the game an inning before when Rebels first baseman Mike Balistreri collided with a light pole and the light pole won, then singled and was followed by a Keith Koehn double to the wall. The Rebs had plated two runs and now had the tying run on second with only one out. After Jalen Bilty strike out, Cody Alf came to the plate. With two strikes, Alf punched a soft liner over the third baseman's head which allowed Koehn to score from second. The rebels had battled all the way back and tied the game heading into the bottom of the 7th.

Kahn would shut down the Dawgs in order to bring the game to extras. With ominous "thunder" from a tiny batch of clouds and possible umpire heat stroke threatening to end the game in a tie, it looked like the 8th inning would be the last inning played for the day no matter what happened. With one out, Chris Elliott again got things rolling for Genesee by singling with a liner up the middle. After a Kyle Stasik pop up, Lucas Bourassa came up with two outs and the fleet-footed Elliott on first. Bourassa found himself down in the count 0-2. As the next pitch came, Elliott took off from first base on an apparent steal attempt and Bourassa promptly smashed the ball to the fence in left-center. Elliott huffed and puffed his way around the bases and scored easily from first. The Rebs had taken the lead. A pop out ended the inning, but the damage was done.

In the bottom of the inning, Genesee turned the ball over to its new-found closer, Alex Kermendy, who retired the side in order to notch the save and earn the Rebels a sweet victory. Cody Alf was the big hitter for the Rebels in Game Two, notching 3 hits while Elliott and Bourassa each added two.

With five games left on the season, the Rebels sit securely in 6th place. They next face off with the Racine Kiwanis on Sunday, July 31st at Genesee Town Park. The double-header could prove to be monumental in the final standings as Racine sits directly ahead of the Rebels with a record of 6-4. With the top 6 teams making the playoffs, the Rebels clearly want to continue their winning ways to earn a playoff victory.

Rebels Take 2 from Ixonia Snappers

The Genesee Rebels took two big games from the Ixonia Snappers on Sunday afternoon. The Rebels won game one by a score of 4-1 and squeaked out a close one with a 7-6 victory in game two. The two wins give Genesee a record of 4-5 on the year. The two victories for the Rebels were the product of solid starting pitching performances from Matt DeMarais and Keith Koehn. The two combined to throw 11 of the 14 innings on the day and only allowed two runs between them.

In Game One, offense was hard to come by as the Rebels' bats were kept off balance with a steady dose of off speed pitches. Genesee jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when rookie Alex Kermendy reached on a single, stole second, and later scored on a Kyle Stasik rbi single. The Snappers tied it in the top of the fourth, but the Rebels finally put it together in the bottom of the 5th when they plated 3 runs. Chris Elliott started the scoring with a one-out single and then promptly stole second. He scored on a Kyle Stasik double to the right-center gap. Lucas Bourassa then walked. The runners moved up to second and third during a Mitch Hauser strikeout that squeaked by the catcher. It looked as if Ixonia would escape the inning allowing only one run, but rookie Jalen Bilty came up huge with a two-out, two-rbi single up the middle.

Ixonia threatened in the top of the 6th when they loaded the bases with only one out on three bloop singles. DeMarais buckled down and induced a shallow fly out to right field and then ended the threat by striking out the 9-hitter to escape unharmed. Rookie Nate Labott pitched a scoreless 7th to notch the save.

Game two looked like it was going to be all Genesee. Lucas Bourassa plated two runs in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-run RBI single. The Rebels put three more runs across in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of two Ixonia errors and again getting clutch two-out rbi singles from Chris Elliott and Kyle Stasik. Genesee added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd by plating two more runs but left more runs on the table as they stranded the bases loaded to end the frame.

Seven runs looked like it would be enough as Keith Koehn was dominant on the mound, allowing only one run through five innings. Things got a little messy for the Rebels in the 6th when they turned the ball over to rookie Brett Zickert. Zickert had been solid in his previous outings but struggled in this relief effort. He walked three and allowed three hits on route to allowing 5 runs in the frame. With new life, the Snappers looked to continue the damage in the 7th and steal a victory. Unfortunately for them, Genesee gave the ball to rookie Alex Kermendy who pitched a near perfect 7th inning, striking out the first two hitters he faced before inducing a 6-3 groundout to end the game and earn the save.

The two victories put the Rebels in 6th place in the division, holding on to the final playoff spot. With the season nearly half over, the Rebels have survived an extremely difficult schedule to start the year. Of their first 10 games of the season, 7 of them have come against the top 4 teams in the league. If the Rebels can take a victory from league leader New Berlin on Sunday, they will have played .500 baseball against the best there is to offer. The Rebels hope to continue playing solid baseball and earn some more W's in the second half of the season.

Thus far, the Rebels season has been characterized by stellar defense. Genesee has, at times, struggled to get the clutch-two-out-hit and have stranded many runners in scoring position. The Rebels have been in every game, save for their outing against Burlington, and very easily could have notched a few more victories if they had scored a few more runs. From the pitching standpoint, when the Rebs can limit the free passes, they do well. Their pitching has been spearheaded by a three-headed-monster with veterans Matt DeMarais & Keith Koehn being supported with rookie Brett Zickert. Offensively, rookie Alex Kermendy leads Genesee with 12 hits while Matt Bauer and Kyle Stasik are also off to solid starts with 8 hits and 7 hits respectively. Stasik and Kermendy lead the team in RBIs with 6 apiece while rookie Nate Labott has crossed home plate the most with 7 runs scored. Rookie Jalen Bilty has been a hot recent addition for the Rebels, leading the team with a .429 batting average through the 5 games he has played.

The Rebels return to action on Sunday, June 26th when they travel to New Berlin to take on the Lakers with noon start time.

Rebels Split With East Troy

 The Genesee Rebels split a hotly contested double-header with the East Troy Express on Sunday afternoon at Genesee Town Park. The Rebels dropped game 1 after holding a 2-0 lead for nearly the entire game. Pitcher Brett Zickert took a no-hitter into the top of the 7th before a few fly balls dropped allowing the Express to tie the game and ultimately win in extra innings with a  final score of 5-2. Game 2 proved to be another defensive duel as the Rebels outlasted the Express for a final score of 2-1. The two games were some of the best baseball you will see in the league as both teams played at a high level for nearly the entire day.

The split brings the Rebels overall record to 2-3 on the year as they dropped another close game to the New Berlin Lakers by a score of 5-2 and handed an easy 8-1 victory to the Burlington Barons. The Genesee Rebels have turned out stellar pitching and defensive performances thus far. Rookie Brett Zickert has been a force on the mound. His solid innings paired with veterans Keith Koehn and Matt DeMarais give the Rebels a 3-headed monster in terms of a starting rotation. With young arms in the likes of Alex Kermendy, Mike Balistreri, and Derek Urban coming out of the bullpen, the Rebels are setting themselves up for the long haul.

A few other bright spots for the Rebels include the play of rookie infielder Alex Kermendy who has filled the void at second, short, and third while providing some speed on the base paths offensively as well. Kermendy also leads the Rebels in hits with 7. Hits have been hard to come by for the Rebels as no other player on the team has more than 3. In fact, there are 6 Rebels with 3 hits to their name. The low early season numbers can be chalked up to facing good pitching as Genesee has had a tough start to the season facing top teams in New Berlin, Burlington, and East Troy.

Defensively, the Rebels are playing extremely solid defense behind generally good pitching. The team is boasting a 0.969 fielding percentage. A solid fielding percentage behind a team ERA of 4.50 has made for some close games. When the Rebels staff limits the free passes, they are tough to beat.

Genesee returns to action on Sunday, June 12th when they host the Waterford Rivermen for a double-header. First pitch is slated for 12:00pm. See you there.

Rebels Look Sharp in Season Debut

The Genesee Rebels got the 2016 season off to a hot start on Sunday afternoon with a 11-1 victory over the Rome Raiders. The Rebels only needed 7 innings to notch their first victory of the season. Solid defense, timely hitting, and taking advantage of a few Rome miscues highlighted the day.

The Rebels turned to veteran player / coach Matt DeMarais for the opening day start. He was his usually crafty self, keeping the Raider hitters off balance with a mix of off-speed pitches. DeMarais retired the first 7 hitters he faced before back-to-back hits led to the lone Raiders run on the day. On the day, DeMarais went 5.0 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 3 strikeouts, and no walks. Keith Koehn took the ball from DeMarais and finished the game with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief allowing only 1 hit.

Behind DeMarais and Koehn, the Rebels played nearly flawless defense. Rookie Alex Kermendy made a few nice plays at second base including a backhanded snag of a diving line drive. Nate Labott returned behind the plate and picked off a Raider baserunner when he ventured too far from first base. The combination of allowing no walks and playing solid defense put the Rebels in a strong position to win the game.

Offensively, the Rebels had one of their largest outputs in recent years. Genesee got on the board early when Christ Theisen led off the first with a line drive single. Rome's pitcher had a hard time finding the strike zone as the next three Rebels reached base via the walk. After a Bourassa fielder's choice to notch the first out of the inning, rookie Mike Balistreri was welcomed to the league by being plunked in the thigh. Bauer then beat out a would-be-inning-ending-double-play to plate the third run of the inning. The Rebels would plate one run in each the second and the fourth before scoring 3 in the fifth and sixth.

Rookie Alex Kermendy had a big day for Genesee going 2 for 4 with one double and three rbi's. Nate Labott, after missing much of his freshman year at Saint Norbert College with an injury, reached base each of his 4 plate appearances and finished with two singles and two runs scored. Veteran Kyle Stasik also reached base each of his four plate appearances going 1 for 1 with 3 runs scored and 3 walks. On the day, the Rebels notched 6 hits on 9 walks while striking out 7 times.

All in all, it was a good day for the Rebels and a strong start to the season. Genesee hosts their youth baseball / softball camp this coming Saturday, May 21st  and returns to the diamond with their first night game in 10 years as they travel to New Berlin for a 7:00pm Wednesday Night showdown on the 25th.

See you on the diamond!

ROME RAIDERS (1) AT GENESEE REBELS (11)

ROME RAIDERS         AB  R  H BI  GENESEE REBELS       AB  R  H BI
Bryce Boos            3  0  0  1  Chris Theisen         3  1  1  1  
Aaron Linse           3  0  0  0   Dom Nabak            1  0  0  0  
Craig McDermot        3  0  0  0  Keith Koehn           4  0  0  2  
Ben Gallo             3  0  0  0  Chris Elliott         2  2  0  0  
Brett Krahn           3  0  2  0  Kyle Stasik           1  3  1  1  
Jordan Garrison       3  0  0  0  Lucas Bourassa        3  1  0  0  
Jason Teuteberg       1  0  0  0   Cody Alf             0  1  0  0  
 Jared Stewart        2  0  0  0  Mike Balistreri       2  0  0  1  
Hunter Garsky         3  1  1  0   Nick Heckenkamp      1  0  0  0  
Ryan Wenzel           2  0  2  0  Matt Bauer            3  1  0  2  
                                  Alex Kermendy         4  0  2  3  
                                  Nate Labott           3  2  2  1  
TOTALS               26  1  5  1  TOTALS               27 11  6 11

ROME RAIDERS                  001 000 0 -- 1  
GENESEE REBELS                310 133 x -- 11 

LOB--ROME RAIDERS 4, GENESEE REBELS 9. ERR--Aaron Linse (3),
Auston Salamaki, Kyle Stasik. 2B--Ryan Wenzel, Alex
Kermendy. HBP--Mike Balistreri. SACF--Chris Theisen.
SB--Ryan Wenzel.

 ROME RAIDERS                    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Jordan Garrison (L)            5.00    4    8    4    5    5    0
Craig McDermot                 1.00    2    3    3    4    2    0
 GENESEE REBELS             
Matt DeMarais (W)              5.00    4    1    1    0    3    0
Keith Koehn                    2.00    1    0    0    0    0    0

WP--Jordan Garrison (4). SO--Aaron Linse, Ben Gallo, Craig
McDermot, Chris Elliott, Chris Theisen, Nick Heckenkamp, Dom
Nabak, Keith Koehn, Mike Balistreri (2). BB--Chris Elliott
(2), Matt Bauer, Kyle Stasik (3), Keith Koehn, Nate Labott,
Cody Alf.

Rebels Season Preview - Part 2

The Genesee Rebels start the 2016 season on May 15^th at home vs. the Rome Raiders. The Rebels will take the field with a mix of wily veterans and exuberant youth. The season looks to be an exciting one as Genesee aims for more community involvement and making Land O Lakes a staple in the Sunday Afternoon Entertainment of all. After finishing last season with a record of ____ and ____ which was good enough for a ______ place finish in the league, the Rebels look to improve and have their sights set at the top of the league.

Our previous post took a look at the returning outfielders. This will look at the rest of the roster!

The Rookies

Mike Ballistreri – Balistreri joins the Rebels after a successful career at Waukesha West High School and a solid freshman year at Trinity International University. “Big Red” will add some depth for the Rebels at first base as well as potentially getting innings on the mound. His bat will undoubtedly help bolster the lineup as he adds a methodical approach at the plate.

Alex Kermendy – Alex is another former Waukesha West Wolverine who just finished his freshman year with the Carroll University Pioneers. A middle infielder / pitcher in high school, Kermendy got some work at 3B with the Pioneers and will help the Rebels all over the field. His presence will fill many gaps for Genesee and definitely make coach DeMarais feel old as Alex was a former student of DeMarais back in the 7^th grade!

Brett Zickert – Zickert joins the Rebels after finishing his freshman season at Beloit College after, you guessed it, a successful high school career at Waukesha West. (I’m seeing a trend here.) Zickert will definitely help the Rebels on the mound this year as his young arm will be a staple in Genesee’s rotation. His ability to play up the middle and all around the field will also help solidify the Rebels defense.

Jalen Bilty – Jalen joins the Rebels after his freshman season at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) where he had a successful rookie season and helped the team make the playoffs. Bilty is another former Wolverine who will look to add more depth to the already crowded Rebels outfield. His young legs and “swing hard in case you miss it” mentality at the plate will be a nice lift for the team.

The Veterans

Chris Elliott – Elliott returns to man first base where he has been a staple in the Genesee lineup for the past 9 years. A marriage, kid, house and real job away from the collegiate slugger, Chris has proven that he is still one of the best first basemen in the league. After shedding a little “daddy fat” in the off season, Elliott has his swing already in mid-season form and is ready to anchor the middle of the Rebels lineup.

Nick Heckenkamp – Heckenkamp had a break out season last year for the Rebels both at the plate and in the field. His patented fist-pump and neon batting gloves have been known to galvanize the Rebels and bring a burst of energy. If he’s not ducking under curveballs, he’s pounding out doubles, blocking balls in the dirt, manning second base, and helping with the day-to-day operations of the Rebels. A great asset as both a player and assistant manager, the Rebs will continue to look for Heckenkamp’s help both on and off the field.

Keith Koehn – The Rebels MVP from last season, Koehn brings the glove at SS, the fastball from the mound, and the power when at-bat. His versatility  and ability to move between the mound and short provide a huge lift for the Rebels. Always one to let his playing do the talking, the Rebels hope his bat and glove will be loud and boisterous throughout the year.

Kyle Stasik – A picture of human health and an immense specimen of athleticism, the Rebels third baseman is as sure-handed as they come at the hot corner. Always willing to give it his all, Stasik’s antics and baseball smarts make him another “coach on the field.” The Rebels will look to Stasik to anchor the infield and provide a veteran approach at the plate. Don’t let his disheveled look fool you, this guy can play!

Derek Urban – A man of only a few appearances last season, the Rebels will look to Urban more this year as he has vowed to ump only on Saturdays and play on Sundays! With his tall frame and lively arm, hopefully Urban can re-establish himself as a dominant pitcher and help lead the Rebels staff. Mixing in time at 3B as well as the OF, Urban’s presence will be greatly appreciated!

Dave Hellmann – When he’s not flipping cars, catching fish, fixing wires, or playing darts, “Mayo” will help the Rebels at both 2B and in the lineup. An All-Star MVP of a few seasons ago, if Dave can stay healthy and show up, he will undoubtedly improve the Rebels’ lineup.

Nathan Labott – Arguably the best defensive catcher to come out of Waukesha West High School, Labott returns to the Rebels after a red-shirt freshman year at Saint Norbert College. Nate is coming off an injury and making the transition from behind the dish to on the mound. If his health allows, Nate is easily one of the top catchers in Land O Lakes. His knowledge of pitching and strong arm should make the transition to pitching a good one.

Aaron Dolan – “The Rev” is as consistent a middle-infielder as you will find in Land O Lakes. As one of the veterans on the team, Aaron will continue to be a quiet force for the Rebels when he is able to make it. He and his wife will be growing their own baseball team as they will be welcoming twins to their family at the end of May. When he is on the field, his smooth swing and fluid fielding make him a strong addition to the lineup.

Andy Sturtevant – Hailing from the Chicago area, “Stu” has the Rebels longest commute for league games. When he is able to make the trek north, he provides a head-strong presence behind the plate and an entertaining approach with the bat in his hands! Never one to shy away from unruly comments like “Gosh darnit” or “I politely disagree with that call sir,” Stu brings civility with his skills. Hopefully he can make it more than he cannot!

The Managers

Matt DeMarais – Entering his second year at the helm for the Rebels and his 9^th year in the league, DeMarais hopes to cut down on his innings on the mound and let more of the younger arms throw the brunt of the fastballs. Never one to overpower the opponent, he still relies on his off-speed pitches and location to keep hitters off balance. As long as his arm doesn’t fall off, he will continue to mix and match as needed and is looking forward to having more options in the lineup this year.

Tim Thelen – A new addition to the Rebels this year, Thelen returns to baseball after a 15 year hiatus from his “glory days” in Minnesota amateur ball. Thelen brings a wealth of knowledge to the Rebels and shares in DeMarais’ vision of getting the community to the center of amateur baseball. His presence and ideas are warmly welcomed by the Rebs!

We’ll see you on the diamond!

Rebels Preview - Part 1 - The Outfield

The 2016 season is less than a month away and the Rebels are gearing up for what hopes to be a successful campaign. The Rebels roster for the 2016 season is a solid mix of savvy veterans and youthful exuberance. With a few key additions to the roster, Genesee hopes to make a run deep in the playoffs. Here's a glance at some of the key roster positions for the 2016 season:

The Outfield:

Matt Bauer - Bauer returns to the roam the friendly confines of center field at Genesee Town Park for the 9th season. A perfect specimen of health, Bauer is known for covering a vast amount of ground and being pesky on the base paths. His versatile skills will help ground the Rebels outfield and could provide a spark either at the top or bottom of the batting order.

Chris Theisen - Still awaiting the ultimate disclosure of conspiratorial evidence against anything and everything, Theisen brings his energy field to left field for the Rebels once again this season. Along with flowing hair and incredibly knowledge of astrology and birthdays, Theisen has been a force in Genesee's lineup. The ability to go deep along with flat-footed speed and undying confidence on the base paths can be a deadly combination. His talking glove, strong arm, and ability to cover ground will make any fly ball to left field a sure out.

Lucas Bourassa - When he's not wearing camouflage and stalking animals, Bourassa is stalking fly balls in the outfield and all around the diamond. Mixing time between outfield, corner infield, and DH, Bourassa provides some much needed pop to the Rebels offensive lineup. His bat will most likely find a place in the middle of the Rebel's lineup and should be an RBI generator throughout the season.

Dom Nabak - After sitting out a year rehabbing a knee injury, Nabak returns to the Rebels and hopes to get back to dropping bombs and snagging flies. The ultimate teammate, Nabak is sure to lift Genesee with his play or his witty and sometimes incomprehensible comments from the bench. Commuting from the Twin Cities where he'll be spending the summer lifting weights and taking pictures of himself flexing, the games where he is present will be a boost for the Rebs.

Mike Hodel - Hodel decided to move to Eau Claire and have a baby, so there's no telling how often he will grace the Rebels with his presence this season. A master of the ultimate softball swing, his all-or-nothing approach at the plate either hits big or misses ugly. Another "coach on the field", Hodel's baseball smarts and ability to help out in any way possible make him another valuable asset to Genesee's roster. Hopefully he is able to make it at least more than Meier ever did.

Brian Szajna - The ultimate practice all-star, Szajna brings all-out-effort to everything he does from tracking fly balls, to spiking into the corner for match point. Szajna is currently the longest tenured Rebel on the roster and an invaluable member of the team. The master of the infield single, he might be the fastest base runner in the league and his uncanny ability to get on base and score make him a much appreciated run scorer for the Rebs.

Cody Alf - A new face to the Rebels, but not new to the area, Alf returns to Wisconsin after a few years of living in the balmy climate of Alaska. Before heading north and taking up softball as a way of life, Cody was once-upon-a-time a stellar outfielder and pitcher for the Carroll Pioneers and even had a stint in the Land O Lakes with Butler. Hopefully his baseball swing will come back to him quickly and his arm will survive a season of hardball. Look for Alf to get back onto the mound and produce for the Rebels there as well.



Mark Switalski - Returning to the Rebels after a leave of absence to scoop ice cream, Switalksi's presence immediately improves the IQ and statistical knowledge of Genesee. His ability to mathematically calculate the trajectory of any fly ball allows him to track down balls that seem to be out of reach. His uncanny ability to attempt a drag bunt during any count and at any situation will keep the infield on their toes when he comes to bat.

A few other Rebels may make appearances in the outfield as well, but the Rebs definitely don't have a shortage of guys able to perform in the outfield. Quite possibly the fastest outfield the Rebs have had in more than a decade, there should be no shortage of excellent play this season.

Stay tuned for further updates as we look at the infielders and pitchers with many new / young faces to bolster the Reb's chances at making this a championship season.

See you on May 15th!

Let it begin...

As Major League Baseball teams partake in opening day festivities over the next week, the Genesee Rebels will finally be able to get on the field! April 1st marks the official opening of Genesee Town Park for seasonal business. As long as the weather holds up, practices for the Rebels will begin Thursday, April 7th and run through August. There's not a better way to spend your Thursday evenings!

The official "Opening Day" for the Genesee Rebels is 44 days away. Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 15th when the Rome Raiders come to town for a noon start to the season. Should be a great day of festivities to kick off what hopes to be a memorable season.

In other news, preparations are in order for the 2nd Annual Spring Training Youth Baseball / Softball Camp hosted by the Rebels. The camp will run on Saturday. May 21st at Genesee Town Park. Any interested ball player between the ages of 8-18 should check out the Camps page for more information. Online Registration is now open!

Keep your eyes peeled around town for the Rebels 2016 Poster Schedule that will be printed this year thanks to our community sponsors. Check out the schedule and new additions to our website over the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone who helps make Rebels Baseball possible.

We'll see you on the ball field!

2016 Schedule Finalized

The sun is coming out, the grass is getting greener, and the weather is warming up. That all means one thing. Baseball is getting closer!

The 2016 Schedule is finalized and the Rebels are excited for the season. With 22 games on the schedule, this promises to be a banner year for the Rebs. Returning the majority of their team from last year with the addition of some new faces, the Rebels are poised for a stellar season.

Check out the schedule below and add the dates to your schedule. The Rebs hope to see you out at all the home games for some solid hometown baseball, food, beer, and spending Sunday afternoons relaxing in the summer sun.

2016 Season Brings Changes for Southwest

Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training this week! That's the best news we've heard in a while. That means that baseball is just around the corner. Somewhere. Once the snow goes away that is.

This season brings a new look for the Southwest Division of the Land O Lakes. Considering the turmoil and drama that the league and the board went through this off season, it's kind of surprising that the Southwest is actually in a stronger position than it was last year. How does that work?

Here's a recap of what happened:
- The Western Division broke ties with the Land O Lakes league in general and will be running it's own "league" this season. There is hope / talk that the West will rejoin LOL next year or in the future, but that depends on discussions, organization, bylaws, rules, etc... that are above our pay grade. The West is still a strong division and seems to be doing something right to continue to grow and produce solid baseball.
- The Northern Division continues to shrink. To be honest, we're not sure on the status or who is left and how many games they are playing
- The Southwest added three teams from the East. New Berlin, Racine, and West Allis will be joining the ranks of East Troy, Waterford, Genesee, Rome, North Prairie, Dousman, Ionia, and Burlington. This brings our team total to 11. That means we will be playing 20 division games this year. Awesome!

The Rebels are switching things up a bit too as we have added a few night games throughout the summer. Thanks to West Allis, New Berlin, and Racine for having fields with lights and pushing for us to try for some night games. We even added two non-conference games against Racine to go along with our conference double-header. That brings our current game total to 22 games. That's the most in recent memory. Shouldn't be any problem getting guys reps and ab's. Now, if we could just find a bit more pitching!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 21st as that's when the Rebels will host their 2nd Annual Youth Baseball Camp. The official schedule will be released within a week or so.

Looking forward to another great season!