The first round of playoffs concluded in dramatic fashion, the Rebels nearly avenging their previous day’s rout. However, the Hounds played their game, holding on for an MLB-regulation-length game and going ahead on a MLB-sized home run for the 13-11 win.

Atticus “The Stapler” Conway started on the bump, the leanie meanie working for 3.1 innings and allowing 4 earned runs.

The Rebels struck first again, achieving a goal very loudly stated from their bench. The Hounds matched their total in the third on a 3-run longball by MVP candidate Arron Kruse, to the delight of his cheering section. The next half-frame, the defense responded with three straight flyouts, each outfielder contributing a put-out. The offense, picking back up where they left off, recorded a pair of RBIs each on liners from Riggenbach (LF) and Rondon (2B) to make it 7-3.

A shakey fourth of walks, errors, and HBPs slim the Doggo advantage to 1 run. Reliever Della Romano entered the game to stem the tide, but not before a a single scored two to take a 1-run lead. In their half of the fifth, Hounds made a lead-off HBP hurt with a car-denting 2-run homer, to regain the lead. Not to be outshined, Nick “Gummy” Albanese trucked a shot of his own, adding to the lead and breaking the 2-2 tie of over-30 and under-30 weekend homers. The back-to-back jacks brought the score to 10-8. The Rebels inched closer on a rally-killing home run to make it 10-9 going into the seventh. Matt Burch (1B) couldn’t buy a hit (despite hard contact), but he was given two HBPs, the second of which came in the last of regulation. He’d be plated on an RBI by Brandon Jessee (CF).

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rebels juiced the bases on free passes from the would-be-closer, before closer-to-the-closer Albanese was brought in. They’d bring one around on a sac-fly, bringing them within 1 run. They’d have man on third for another fly to defensive sub Phil Zelenka (RF), but the runner inexplicably did not attempt to advance. Unfortunately, a controversial balk call was made as the pitcher motioned with his throwing hand for a repeat of the catcher pitch signals, tying the game. The next batter popped out to send it to extras.

The Hounds wasted a lead off single, and stonewalled the Rebels in the 8th, thanks to a game-saving at-the-wall nab by Tim Riggenbach. Burch finally found an opening for a single in the ninth. The Captain himself was sent to the plate with 1-out in the top of the ninth. The grizzled veteran tattooed a fastball to deep left field, a screamer which would have terrorized some little leaguers had they been present. The blast brought the over-30s, with a combined 100+ years, tied with the young bloods 3 homers to 3 homers. The Rebels managed to have the winning run at the plate with one out but did nothing with it, an infield fly and a 5U tagout sealing their lost cause.

The hot Hounds celebrated with friends and family with beer and maybe one itty-bitty shot from the Fireball Keg. Some players and companions trekked back north to their past and future stomping grounds, K’s dugout, for pizzas and buckets.

With the victory, a championship rematch is set between the Hounds and Electrons, who will faced one another in their 3 consecutive playoffs. The series will take place during the week, starting Monday August 12, 7:00 PM at Baseball Alley.