With the 2-1 series victory over the upstart Holden Blue Jays in the semi-finals, the Ryley Rebels are headed to their first PBL Championship Series since the 2000 season. The 2010 Rebels will also be looking at repeating the same success that the 2000 Rebels had when they defeated the Camrose Roadrunners to capture the last PBL Championship in Rebel history. Ironically, the 2000 Rebels also finished in second place, behind the first place Camrose Roadrunners, much like the 2010 Rebels finishing second to the first place Leduc Milleteers.

The Rebels head into the series with a 1-4-0 overall record (1-2-0 PBL) versus the Milleteers in 2010 with the only win coming in Leduc. The two teams played each other early, and often, in 2010 with all 5 games occurring between May 12th and June 15th. 

The Rebels have also benefited from the return of two of there starting rotation as RHP Curt Stensrud and RHP Dylan Solberg, each recored a victory in the Holden series. Stensrud and Solberg combined with the emergence of RHP Craig Koughan and veteran RHP Ron Oslund will give the Rebels more depth then they have had all season long. It is doubtful that RHP Joel Graumann will be ready in time for the final, but stranger things have happened as perhaps some relief work will be in order for the youngster. 

Although the 1-4-0 record is rather unimpressive, the Rebels have played the Milleteers tough during the course of the PBL season. In the first game of the season series, the Rebels jumped out to an early 8-1 lead after 3 innings of play before allowing the Milleteers back into the game in the 6th inning before the Milleteers eventually won in the 8th inning to make the score 10-8.

In game 2, the previously undefeated Milleteers ran into veteran knuckleballer, Ron Oslund who was able to keep the Milleteer hitters off balance enough to allow a 7th inning comeback by the Rebel offense to win 3-2. It marked the first loss of the season by the Milleteers, and stood as the only loss on home soil in 2010 for the Milleteers as well. 

The third and final meeting of the season between the two teams saw Rebels RHP Curt Stensrud make his first appearance of 2010 and considering he hadn’t touched a baseball in 10 months, performed alright. Although Stensrud surrendered 10 hits (9 singles and 1 double), he was able to strike out 11 Milleteers in the process. With the Milleteers up 3-0 after a rough top of the first for Stensrud, the Rebel offense came storming back, scoring 2 in the 3rd and 1 more in the 4th to tie the game up at 3. It would remain that way until the top of the seventh when the Milleteers scored 2 to seal the game. 

In there first of year of action, the modern Rebels were swept out of the playoffs by the eventual PBL Champion Leduc Milleteers 2-0 (3-2, 11-5). In both games, the Rebels were able to jump out to early leads before cracking under the pressure and handing the Milleteers the game and the series. 

Three regular season games between these two clubs, and three games decided in the last inning with the visiting team winning all three. 

The PBL’s most explosive offense against the PBL’s most suffocating pitching.

Should make for a great series.