JOHNSTON —- As bad as Strom Thurmond baseball coach Brent Wilder and the Rebels wanted to beat rival Saluda on the diamond last week from a competitive standpoint, they just needed some good news in the Region 3-AA standings so much more.

After dropping its first two region contests, the game against the Tigers was of most importance.

Fortunately, for the Rebels (4-7, 2-2), standout hurler Josh Wilson was on the mound.

Wilson pitched a complete game, fanned eight batters and only walked two to lead Thurmond to a 4-1 victory for its first conference victory.

Wilder, who allowed just four hits, was impressed with Wilson’'s performance.
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"You just can’t say enough about Josh Wilson tonight,” he said. “He threw 93 pitches and only walked two batters. Big time pitchers step up in big games and that’s what he did tonight.” Wilder said the Rebs had to have the game."

Wilder said the Rebs had to have the game.
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"It’s big,"” he said. “"For us it was a must-win.”"

Other than Wilson’'s heroics, and some stellar work at the plate by Dylan Durham (2-3, 2 RBI), Porter Coleman (1-3, RBI), Marquez Mathis (1-3) and Grant Burton (1-2) the Rebels helped themselves simply by playing fundamentally sound baseball with only a pair of errors.
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"We only had two errors tonight and I can live with that,"” Wilder added.

Wilson agreed, saying that “"I’'ll live with that anyday."”

Unfortunately, that solid play in the field would not remain a day later in a lopsided 9-2 loss to visiting Emerald played in a steady, cold rainfall.

Rebel starter Porter Coleman and reliever Cullen Rhoden scattered four hits through the game, but were victimized by eight unearned runs and five walks.

Friday’'s road game at Newberry was postponed by rain.

But the Rebels got rioght back on track on Monday, beating the Bulldogs by a 6-2 final behind another strong, complete game effort by Wilson, who allowed four hits and struck out six batters.
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"We'’ve talked about getting back to basics, but also about not being afraid to make a play,”" Wilder said. “"We needed to become a team full of guys that want the ball hit to them. In our two region wins we’ve had three errors and we’ve had that in an inning in other games. But we’re playing better baseball overall."”

Leading hitters Monday were Dylan Durham (2-4), Corey Weeks (2-4), Josh Wilson (3-3) and Des Davis (RBI-double late in the game to help seal the victory).
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"We’re trying to make the playoffs, which would be a huge boost for us,"” Wilder said. “We’re making big strides and got the big hit (Monday) so we’re trying to build on some of that momentum."”