McKenzie Tennis Team Begins Season

Seniors on this year's team include Jadrea Allen, Andrew Bateman, Michelle Chandel, Jesse King, Matt Lewis and Robyn Winkler. Other team members are junior Jessica Johnson, sophomores Wendy Chandler, Daniel Duncan, David King and Michelle Moody and freshman Brittany Wallace.

The coach is Tenia King who is assisted by Marian Mebane-Graves.
      

Chris Walls hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning last Thursday afternoon to give the Rebels a district victory over the Riverside Panthers. The Rebels held the early lead, but Riverside tied the game in the top of the fourth and then took a two run lead in the fifth. By the end of six, Riverside held a 9-6 lead and seemed to be in control of the game. With two outs and three runners on base, Walls was at bat with two balls and one strike against him when he hit the ball over the left field fence to score four runs and win the game.

The Panthers led off in the top of the first inning with a single and then scored on an error at third base. Taylor Holland also hit a single for the Rebels to lead off in the bottom of the inning. Mitchell Hall also hit a single and with Holland at third base, an error at the plate gave the Rebels the tying run. The Rebels held the Panthers in the top of the second and then Brian Toombs led off with a walk in the bottom of the second inning. Rory Lacey also walked while Mark Ghyers struck out. Holland came to bat and hit a single to load the bases. Wall walked, scoring Toombs and Hall reached base on an error to score Lacey. Holland also scored before Winston grounded out to end the inning. McKenzie now led 4-1.

Riverside scored in a single run in the top of the third on a double by Marcus Twyman and a single by Josh McDonald. The Rebels had three up and three down for the inning. After three, McKenzie led 4-2. In the top of the fourth inning, a couple of errors, a double and a single gave Riverside two runs to tie the game at four. McKenzie got a single from Hall, but no runs in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fifth inning, a trio of singles and an error allowed the Panthers to score two runs and take a 6-4 lead. The Rebels were unable to counter.

In the top of the sixth inning, McDonald hit a double and Jarred Rainey hit a single with Jerry Golder walking to load the bases with one out. All three runners scored before the Rebels got the needed two outs and Riverside led 9-4. In the bottom of the inning, Ghyers led off with a walk and Holland hit a triple to score Ghyers. Holland also scored to narrow the margin to 9-6. The Rebels held the Panthers in the top of the seventh inning and came to bat needing three run to tie the game. Winston struck out and then Nathan Young hit a single, Toombs hit a single and Lacey made it to first off an error in right field. Holland walked to score Young and the Walls came to bat with two out and the bases loaded. With two balls and a strike against him, Walls hit the ball over the left field fence to score four innings and McKenzie had an 11-9 victory. Brian Winston improved to 2-1 with the victory and struck out five Riverside batters.

In other games at the Sports Plus Classic, the Rebels faced TCA in their opening game and lost 8-6. Wall and Ghyers were the leading hitters with two each. Hall had a double as the Rebels were held to seven hits for the day. Winston took the loss, his first.

In their second game, the Rebels faced the South Side Hawks and fell 4-1. Holland had a single, Wall had a double and a single, and Toombs and Young each had doubles. Matt Hutchison took the loss.

On Monday, the Rebels faced JCM and fell 11--6. Hall was the losing pitcher in the six-inning game. Jake Smith, Ghyers and Young each had doubles and Young had a home run in the game.
 

Semi-Pro Winners: First Place went to the Tennessee team of Brent Moody of Huntingdon and Greg Blackburn of McKenzie who fished 12-15 depths up the river with a spider rig using purple and chartreuse jigs to land an 18.93-pound stringer. That weight put $1,600 in their piggy bank.

Tie for Second Place: The father and son Wingo, KY team of David Sisson and Larry Sisson tied with the Tennessee team of Ronnie Capps of Dyersburg and Steve Coleman of Tiptonville. Each team weighed in 16.63 pounds of crappie to split $1,300. What tipped the money scale in favor of the Kentucky team was their first place in the Mitchell Reels Big Fish contest. They landed a 2.82-pound crappie that earned them $500. Capps and Coleman caught the second place Mitchell Reels Big Fish that weighed 2.47 pounds that added $212 to their total.

Third Place: Donald Attwood from Hustonville, KY and John Peyton of Louisville, KY slow-trolled jigs and live bait up the river in 12 feet of water to catch 15.45 pounds of crappie and a check for $550.

Fourth Place: The Rome, GA team of Chuck Prevost and Kevin Randall weighed in 12.97 pounds for a $500 check.