Rebels Fall in AAU Baseball Championship

The Southern Cal Rebels from Mission Viejo lost to the Tampa (Fla.) Hitmen, 7-5, on Friday in the championship game of the Division I 14-under AAU Baseball National Championships in Norman, Okla.

The Rebels, who trailed, 7-1, after five innings, had the tying runs on base in the top of the seventh inning. The Hitmen finished 8-1 in the tournament, their only loss to the Rebels, who finished 8-2.

Earlier Friday, the Rebels defeated Team USA of Texas, 20-6. Jason VanLeuven had a 450-foot, three-run homer in the victory.

In other AAU Division I national baseball tournaments, the Murrieta Reds finished fourth in the 18-under competition at Ft. Myers, Fla., and the Fullerton Stingers were sixth in the 17-under playoffs in Orlando, Fla.