HISTORY 2012
The Rebels Softball Club have traditionally been a team of which little is expected, but they often surprise us by remaining a factor in the playoff race. The 2012 season more or less fit that mold. After three years of injuries and ineffectiveness decimated what had been one of the softball league's top teams in 2008 and 2009, the Club entered 2012 with only the most modest of goals.
Gone were the dreams of contention that had slowly eroded in 2010 and '11. Gone, too, was Matt Mitchell, who had been in the dugout's lead seat for four seasons. Also gone were the likes of Nestor Toro and Kevin Simmons both former core players who felt the need to test free agency.
Nevertheless, they say your record ultimately tells what kind of team you are, and the Rebels were a club just under .500. Month by month, they pretty much treaded water the entire year. Their best performance came in February, when they travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. / and in March they travel to Lafayette, IN..
There were, of course, highlights interspersed throughout the year, too. Andy Olson extra inning walk-off base hit after a game tying home run, defeating Bubba’s on May 23rd / Thomas Wolfer stirring team debut on October 29th of 2011 going (3 for 3, 2 Runs). Winning the New Berlin, Wi, summer Tournament.
In partnership with WHAT? Softball, the Rebels Club announced that it would be implementing a new younger softball squad that will begin play in Waukegan on Monday and Tuesday nights.
The inaugural game one was played on Monday May 14th, against Uline club at SportsPark, C’. - The Squads first ‘Base Hit’ was from infielder Brandon Tengler / first ‘Run Scored’ was infielder Nolan Sordyl / first ‘RBI’ was infielder Ryan Siembal / first ‘HR’ was infielder Nolan Sordyl / first ‘HR’ was infielder Luke Mueller / first ‘Team Win’ was against Sluggers club on Monday May 21st, - 18 to 8 final score.
Thomas Wolfer had an incredible rookie season with WHAT? softball, who already knew Wolfer was going to be a big league outfielder when they acquired him in the fall of 2011, but they didn't know what to expect from him as a hitter. From the moment Wolfer walked into the dugout, he went about surprising everyone in both regards. Taking over the number 2 hole, he enjoyed a .574 average or better every day from February 18 until Nov. 11, an amazing feat for someone who didn't have many plate appearance in the upper leagues going into the year.
Talk about the year of the rookies - 2012 fit the bill for the club.
Thomas Wolfer, Kyle Risinger and Brandon Tengler broke camp with the team and remained with the team for the length of the
season, playing well offensively and defensively while adding versatility in respect to the many positions each played. Though it didn't translate into more wins, the infusion of youth did provide an encouraging spark and outlook. Infielders Mike Gould, Nolan Sordyl, Derek Hansen, Ryan Siembal, Matt Cross and Sean Bakkum along with outfielders Bradley Daniels, Luke Mueller and Cody Karlin all moved into starting roles and flourished in their rookie season. Josh Lutinski came up in August and gave the staff a boost.
20 year-old rookie infielder Cal Haley joined the team early in the season and by the end of the campaign, was the team's starting catcher. Haley finishes in Top 5 in several offensive categories including, average (.618, 1st), runs scored (23,), extra base hits (16), slugging percentage (1.273, 1st) and on-base percentage (.655, 1st).
The Rebel Older Squad needed everything to break right in order to have a successful season. How many teams in softball have felt that same feeling? For the Rebels, the feeling is a little different.
The heart of the Rebel softball club batting order was strong just about all year.
Clark Collins and Ralph Lozano both hit at an All-Star level and both received MVP votes. But for a variety of reasons, they just didn't get enough help. Outfielder Joe Yonke missed most of the first half and Caleb Arthur was a non-factor at the plate nearly all year. Infielders Joey Ratliff, Ryan Vanderwarker and James Yonke all took a step backwards on a performance level. What should have been a deep lineup instead turned into a two or three man team on far too many occasions.
What remained was one of the youngest rosters in the Lake County leagues, one that only grew younger as 2012 wore on. The Rebel club had a new lower squad in the organization at season's beginning and a new Farm System in place at season's end. In between, they auditioned teams of rookies, partially by design and partially as the result of some decimating injuries. The 012’ campaign was a season geared towards the emergence and maturation of the 20-and-under crowd, but the Rebel Softball Club hopes that if a new core will come together, as they return to the championship levels last reached in '08.
The new full-dye white jersey with red / royal blue lightning bolts on the sides - What? Softball - lettering with a softball face logo across the chest, was introduced for the 2012 Fall league softball season.
Unfortunately, veteran is a nice word for old, and health was a concern for this team in 2012. But if healthy, and if happy – The WHAT? Older Squad enjoyed bounce-back years from Geoff Killen, Clark Collins and a late Joe Yonke. Collins breakout campaign suggests he wasn't going to settle for nothing else but that MVP award.
Then again, that feeling often helps turn a very good team into one of championship caliber.