Rebels fall to Oceanside in 2A State Championship series

PROSPERITY, S.C. — Mid-Carolina season ends in disappointment as they fall just short in the 2A South Carolina High School League State Championship series against Oceanside. The Rebels lose game two of the series by the score of 6-3 to the Sharks at home on Wednesday evening.

It was a packed house at Mid-Carolina’s home field for the second game of the series as they home team fans anticipated to see their Rebels try to even the series and force a game three. Mid-Carolina fell to Oceanside by the score of 4-0 on Monday, May 20. It was the first game of this magnificent playoffs run that they were held scoreless in.

Both team’s fans crowded each of their respective sides and cheered loudly to try to will their squads to victory. The Sharks got on the score board quickly in the top of the first inning as they quickly scored three runs before the Rebels could even blink.

The Sharks defense and pitching were strong through three innings. They held the Rebels scoreless for 10 straight innings, but of course, Mid-Carolina eventually figured things out.

“Well they are really good and are very deep. They have very good pitchers and have some good stuff. It took us awhile to figure it out but once we figured it out then we had better swings. Even up there [Oceanside] I thought we swung the bat okay. We hit the ball at people and they just made some good plays, which is baseball,” said Rebels’ head coach Lindsey Stribble.

The Rebels had base runners on the corners at the the bottom of the fourth inning and were able to score their first of the game and the series on a bad pitch. Kade Tedder put on the jets and slide into home plate to put the home team on the scoreboard.

Things started to get tight for the visitors and they decided to make a pitching change at the bottom of the fourth inning. The Rebels took advantage of the new arm on the mound and Tony Dicorte drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to make it just a one score game, 3-2.

Oceanside was able to take advantage of an error in the top of the fifth inning to score another run and give themselves a cushion. Mid-Carolina would quickly respond in the bottom of the fifth inning after Brady Davenport blasted a solo home-run over the heads of the Sharks center fielder and right fielder.

Both teams kept things even in the sixth inning, but the visitors would add one more insurance run at the top of the seventh inning after an RBI single drove in a base runner from second base.

The game came down to the Rebels last three outs at the bottom of the seventh inning. Things got off to a good start for the home team after the first two hitters reached base. It took a turn after the Sharks were able to force a double play.

Mid-Carolina still fought hard and had runners on the corner with the power of Dicorte at the plate. Unfortunately, the power hitter went down on three strikes and that sealed a three-peat for Oceanside.

Despite the tough loss, the Rebels fought the whole series and it started with Kaden Myers. The junior came in relief on the mound in the early part of the game and finished strong for the Rebels. He totaled six strikeouts, allowed three runs and only gave up five hits over a five inning stretch.

“Kaden is a special player, he works hard at it and he is a very good athlete. Honestly, he is just starting to figure some things out and he’s got a chance to be really, really good,” said Stribble. “He kept us in and gave us a shot. That’s all we can ask on any given day. He gave us a chance and he just battles.”

The Rebels finish the season as the class 2A state runner-ups and will lose eight seniors, which includes all-state selections Jabari Flemon and Jacob Clark.