By ROBERT L. LEE

RESERVE – The Integrity Consulting Wildcats displayed a Titanic effort versus the Reserve Post 159 Rebels Wednesday, however the Wildcats lost their steam in the final innings and sank 9-2. The Rebels move to 4-1, while the Wildcats fall to a 1-3 record.

Retaliating from the Rebels’ two runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Wildcats evened the score with the opening of the second inning.

The Rebels wouldn’t have an answer until the fourth inning, when the home team chalked up three runs and drove in the game ending runs, scoring another four in the seventh inning.

Although the Wildcats were losing confidence and the Rebels were building on their momentum, Rebels’ head coach Davey Clement said he never stopped worrying about a Wildcat comeback until the final out.

“They swing well, they’re a scary team even at 9-2,” admitted Clement. “But their pitcher got tired and they made some errors at key times. We got the clutch hits.”

He explained the win was a matter of consistency and patience, especially after bouts with two, two-inning rounds of being kept scoreless. The Rebels also managed to keep the beaming sun and harsh taunting from the Wildcats’ dugout rolling off their backs like the sweat on their foreheads.

“There are some teams which do a lot of cheering in the dugout and try to get in our heads,” said Clement. “But we are the type of team not to retaliate, but go out there and play ball. I like the way we handle loud teams.”

The black and gold dugout, which was a hot-bed for chanting the Rebels’ defense, began to grow quiet after the fourth and fifth innings. The quieter mood mirrored the Wildcats’ defensive performance, which led to a total of three errors.

“It’s like that in every game, we start strong and play four or five innings strong, then taper off,” said Wildcats’ head coach Macky Waguespack. “This should be a 3-2 game, but we gave them five extra outs on errors and bad throws. We need to get where when we’re down, we can still compete. But I think we’ll swing the bats with any team, it’s our defense that’s my major concern.”

The Rebels began with Scott Poirrier pitching, and allowed only one hit, a double to deep left field, before making the third out. T. J. Cancienne delivered a base hit for the Rebels’ first at bat, followed shortly after by a Poirrier double to left field and a D. J. Fortenberry line drive to center, letting the two runners jog across home plate. With two outs, Fortenberry tried to steal second base, but the Wildcats made a successful throw and the third out.

After one strike out to begin the second inning, the Wildcats’ Greg Sentimore stole a base hit, then second base. Stan Borne and Collis Linson were each hit by a pitch and walked to load the bases. With two outs Ronald Marshall tied the score with a double.

The Rebels threatened to retake the lead, and even loaded the bases with two outs. However, the Marshall held his position on the mound to strike out the last batter and leave the three Rebels stranded. The Wildcats seemed to be gaining control of the game in the third inning when they put runners on second and third bases offensively, then defensively sent the Rebels next three batters right back with three outs.

However, the third inning would mark the beginning of the end for the Wildcats’ stellar performance.

The fourth inning saw them thrown out running for first base, steal second after a walk, then hit two fly outs.

The Rebels used the fourth inning to reestablish themselves with three base hits to bump their score up a point with one out. A walk set the bases loaded before a sacrifice fly and another Poirrier double to left gave the Rebels a 5-2 lead. A Poirrier home run, a Trent Malbrough ground ball and doubles by Jordan Remondet and Ryan St. Romain lifted the score to a final 9-2.