The ACCS Rebels used outstanding pitching and defense to go along with a late homer by Boo Burchfield to advance to the winner’s bracket of the MPSA 4-3A tournament with a 6-2 win over Centreville.

Rebel starter Christopher Rayborn was in control throughout as he went the distance while allowing only three hits and striking out nine.

&uot;Pitching and defense is what I preach, and that is what got it done for us tonight,&uot; ACCS head coach Gill Morris said. &uot;We didn’t do much on offense, but Boo Burchfield’s homer really took the steam out of them late in the game.&uot;

The 6-2 win over the Tigers sends ACCS into a winner’s bracket game today at 1 p.m. against Silliman, who advanced by beating Central Private.

ACCS and Silliman have played three times this season, with the Rebels taking two of the three contests.

The winner moves into Friday’s championship game, while the loser will play the winner of today’s contest between Centreville and Central Private for a shot at the title on Friday.

In the win 6-2 win over the Tigers, ACCS scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Singles by Lee Watts and Burchfield got the inning started. Watts scored the first run on a wild pitch, and Burchfield scored when Russ Marks reached on an error.

The lead grew to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. Once again it was Watts and Burchfield crossing home plate.

This time Watts reached on a base on balls and scored when Te Riley reached on an error. Burchfield singled and scored on a wild pitch.

The Tigers cut into the lead with a single run in the top of the fourth, but Burchfield’s homer in the bottom of the fifth with Trey Mardis on board pushed the Rebel advantage to 6-1.

The Tigers did score one run in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough to keep ACCS from picking up the important opening night win.