By Robert Thomas

Flower Mound, Texas- Bracket play kicked off for the nearly 200-team field for the AAYBA World Series tournament in Flower Mound Texas, including big wins in the Silver and Copper divisions by the Flower Mound Express and Mansfield Indians, respectively.

Flower Mound Express (Tx.) 3, Texas Rebels (Mansfield, Tx.) 2

The threat of rain and the sudden cool weather did little to take away from a solid baseball game on Thursday to open up
14-and-under Silver bracket play, with the Flower Mound Express getting a one-run win over the Texas Rebels. The FM Express rode a slick combination of good pitching,
timely hitting and defensive play to get its win over the Rebels.

"It was a good baseball game for both teams," said Flower Mound Express coach Steve Brown. "Our pitching and defense carried us today and the offense came up with an enough hits to spark a big inning."

Express starting pitcher Corbin McBride tossed six strong innings in the win, striking out two while scattering three hits. However, McBride and the Express faced a 2-0 deficit as the Rebels plated unearned runs in the third and fourth innings. That deficit was quickly erased in the bottom of the fourth, as three runs came across for a 3-2 lead.

Singles by Sam Haimowitz and Spencer Gil (2-for-3) started the rally, with both stealing bases to move into scoring position. Erik Hoeft added an RBI single to plate Haimowitz, with Jake Mayer blasting a two-run double to drive in the go-ahead runs. McBride didn't squander the lead for the Express, retiring
six of the final eight batters he faced to get the game to the seventh innings. The defense also played a big role in the win, including a key 6-4-3 inning-ending double play in the fifth inning.

Gil was then tapped to close the game out in the seventh, with Gil sending down the last two batters with ground ball outs. The Rebels did get a runner on with a leadoff walk, but a great defensive throw by Mayer erased the runner as he tried to take third base.

The Rebels were paced by Esteban Martinez (2-for-4) and relief pitcher Alex Long (four strikeouts in three innings).

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