Rebels hit the ground running with third straight win

Apr. 14— ADAMS — After a long basketball season that took the Rebels to the state tournament in late March, the Southland baseball team didn't have a lot of time as a full group to prepare for this season.

However, the Rebels have been able to come out effectively as they've won their first three games, including a 2-1 win over Mabel-Canton (3-2 overall) on Tuesday.

Southland (3-0 overall) trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth when Cael Smith walked, Henry Wiste had an infield single and Will Thome walked. While the Rebels didn't record another hit in the game, Smith and Wiste both scored on wild pitches to put Southland up 2-1 and senior Easton Meyer put all three hitters down in order in the seventh to close out the complete game win.

"Each and every game, you've got to put it away. A win is a win at the end of the day," said Meyer, who scattered two hits and struck out eight. "I'm super excited for this year and I have high expectations, just like any other year. I think this team can be really good."

While the Southland basketball team, which has a pair of starters on the baseball team, was making its run to state, Meyer and junior catcher Landon Hill were making sure they didn't forget about baseball.

"It's been a lot of late nights," Hill said. "We really tried to get them throwing a little during basketball season. We also got a lot of live at bats in a short amount of time before the season."

Southland head coach Scott Koenigs, who also coached the Rebel boys basketball team, said that there are some spots that are still up for grabs this spring. Right now he's focused on players who have the fundamentals down.

"We have one senior and he's a good one in Easton Meyer and I know what we have in our top six hitters," Koenigs said. "For our other guys, right now I'm going with the philosophy that whoever can play defense for us is going to get a chance."

MC 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 2 0

Southland 0 0 0 0 0 2 X — 2 5 0

Southland pitching: Easton Meyer (W) 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 8 K

Southland hitting: Brekken Koenigs, 1-for-3; Beau Sathre, 1-for-3; Landon Hill, 0-for-2, BB; Meyer, 0-for-3; Cael Smith, 0-for-2, BB; Henry Wiste, 2-for-3; Will Thome, 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Thatcher Smith, 0-for-1; Logan Volkart, 1-for-2, BB; Dinero Dunagan, 0-for-2