The South County Rebels, a Gilroy-based 11U baseball team, earned the championship at the inaugural Mardi Gras Tournament held at Las Animas Veterans Field on Sunday.
The Rebels played three games, including the final against the Salinas Titans.
After falling behind 3-0 after the top of the first, the Rebels’ bats went wild. The offense produced 16 runs over the next two innings.
Led by Jon Scarcella, Alex Ruiz and Marcus Salgado, the Rebels took a 6-2 lead after the first inning. Starting pitcher Anthony Burns got into his groove in the top of the second and shut down the Titans’ offense. The Rebels, though, could not be kept quiet, wearing out the Titans’ pitching staff en route to 10 runs in the bottom of the second.
Burns returned in the top of the third inning and continued his power approach from the mound, leading to an exciting game closing double play by catcher Stevie Lemberger. In the final game, 10 Rebels batted 1.000. Scarcella was named Most Valuable Tournament Player.
