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Rebels win opener at tournament MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - The Rogue Valley Rebels continued their stellar play in this summer of tragedy and triumph, knocking off Battleground, Wash., 9-1 Tuesday to open the U12 girls national softball tournament. The Rebels, who won the state championship and have compiled a 35-5 record, are playing in the memory of head coach J.D. Shinkle. Shinkle died of leukemia prior to the start of the season. Against Battleground, Jill Jeter pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10 in the game called after five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule. Jeter allowed only a third-inning single to Arille Wrer. Brooke Newsom and Tiffany Schmelzer each went 3-for-4 for the Rebels and combined to drive in three runs. Jeter belted a two-run double. Rogue Valley, undaunted by the scope of the tournament - 59 teams, including several from far-reaching states - opened the tournament with errorless ball. "They came up in their first go-round at-bat," said coach Don Jeter, "and had a couple of jitters. There were a couple of swings at really high pitches. But they calmed down and kept it all together." The Rebels play their second and final pool game today against either Santa Maria, Calif., or Ventura, Calif. Double-elimination play begins Thursday. The tournament concludes Sunday. Battleground, Wash...............................001 00 - 1 1 1 Rogue Valley Rebels............................202 23 - 9 10 0 Wrer and Tierney; Jeter and Hubbard. W - Jeter. L - Wrer. 2B - RV: Jeter. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.