NATCHEZ — At 2-6, the Adams County Christian School Rebels find themselves having to scrap and claw to stay alive in the postseason hunt. But with the pitching staff and lineup head coach Richy Spears has at his disposal, the Rebels have a fighting chance.

Led by Wade Simpson and others on the mound, and a lineup that can make solid contact from top to bottom, Spears is simply looking for his team to string everything together at the right time, especially at the plate.

“It just seems like we can’t put them all together,” Spears said. “It is like this one hit this time and then when we need a big hit, we’ll come through every now and then, but we don’t get it on that consistent basis when we need it. It is tough, and I know the kids hate it.”

But if the Rebels continue to get pitching performances like they have recently, hitting may not be as critical.

“We’ve got Wade, Luke Thomas and Marshall Edmonds, and they are going to be our main three pitchers,” Spears said. “Then it’ll come down to Cole Gatlin and Tyler Stockstill, who will see some time. Then we’re are going to have to find some arms somewhere.”

Simpson, who turned in a monumental performance in his last outing, may not take the mound for a while considering the length of his last outing. But the senior said it was worth it.

“I never thought I would go 13 innings,” he said. “It just felt really good to me.”

And it felt good to the Rebels as well, who picked up the win in that game. Simpson pitched all 13 innings, throwing 188 pitches and striking out 24 batters.

“There was a lot of adrenaline pushing through me,” he said.

Simpson said he knows he is the anchor of the pitching staff, but realizes the importance of someone filling that role.

“I feel like they have more confidence in the field when I’m on the mound,” he said.

As for getting into the postseason, Spears and the Rebels will rely on something the head coach said sets them apart from many others — togetherness.

“They stay together,” Spears said. “They want to do it for each other. They all have a team mentality, that is what I think. That is big here. A bunch of them have known each other for a while and they are good buddies. It is a complete team.”

Simpson echoed Spears saying he has faith in the team’s ability to bounce back.

“I think we have what it takes,” Simpson said. “We just have to work on some fundamental things.”