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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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MILAN - McKenzie's baseball team had been journeying
down a rough path, littered with hard luck and miscues.
But the Rebels showed signs last week of righting the
ship. McKenzie finished second in the Milan Physical
Therapy Tournament, bowing to the host Bulldogs 13-3 in
the championship on Saturday.
The Rebels committed too many errors and couldn't
establish any offense against the Bulldogs.
It was in stark contrast to Friday's pool game between
the Rebels and Jackson-South Side. McKenzie battled back
and forth with the Hawks before Rebel junior catcher
Mark Ghyers provided some thrills.
Ghyers came to the plate with two away in the sixth, his
team trailing 6-4 and in danger of going home without
hardware. Ghyers quickly fell behind 0-2, but worked a
full count with two out. Then South Side southpaw Derek
Blackwood shook off a sign. His offering was a hanging
curve ball that Ghyers parked over the 325 sign in left
field.
The Rebel junior just blasted a grand slam home run and
pushed the Rebels in front 8-6. Sophomore Drew Hayes
took the hill in the top of the seventh and closed it
down, preserving the victory.
The Rebels led 3-2 in the second frame. Senior second
sacker John French edged the Rebs in front when he drove
in Clint Manns, who also reached on a single. But a two
run error in the third gave the Hawks a 4-3 lead. South
Side extended its lead when Kirk Johnson launched a
two-run shot for the 6-3 lead in the sixth.
In the Rebel sixth, Jordan Trull walked, but was retired
at second on Beau Brown's fielder's choice. Robert Jones
reached on an error, but drove in Brown, who wound up on
third after a passed ball and wild pitch.
Hayes singled, then Jake Smith walked to load the bases
for Ghyers.
The Rebels are 8-17 as a result of the tournament. In
earlier action:
Westview 7
McKenzie 3
The Rebels scattered seven hits, but couldn't solve the
Chargers, who claimed their second decision of the
season over the Rebels.
Hayes doubled while Jones, Smith, Ghyers, Manns, Trull
and Campbell each singled for the Rebels.
McKenzie 10
Henry Co. 4
John French homered and went 2-5 while Jordan Trull
homered in a 2-3 outing as the Rebels atoned for last
week's loss to the Patriots.
Ghyers was 2-4 while Hayes and Manns each singled.
