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McKenzie's Lady Rebel softball
team has won just two of its last six games.
On the surface, that doesn't
sound so hot. But when you examine that they had some of
Tennessee finest softball teams on the ropes this past
weekend, it's not so bad.
Consider that the Lady Rebs
faced perennial power Chester County, a team that
McKenzie could play in the regionals if it takes care of
business in this week's 11AA tournament, and lost 2-1.
Consider that they faced
Riverdale, a school in Murfreesboro that is steward to
over 2,300 kids, and could have won the game.
Henry County, replete with 30 wins, struggled as well.
This team has pitching depth,
hitting depth and has experienced production from a lot
of different places, some unexpected.
Going 1-3 in tournament play at
Waverly this weekend might be a bummer for most folks,
but if the Lady Rebels use this as a building block,
they can embark on a lengthy run in May.
Who knows, we may even get to
host Marshall County this year. Wouldn't that be fun?
* * *
Bethel's baseball team came oh
so close to capturing its first regular season KIAC
title Saturday.
The Wildcats had a dizzying
array of itinerary changes before they settled on trying
to play two games Friday at Spalding University (located
in Louisville, Ky). One could safely say that the action
at Churchill Downs that weekend couldn't have been any
more exciting.
BC split the doubleheader Friday
against the nation's 11th-ranked team, despite having
been on the road all day and fighting inclement weather.
In fact, the Wildcats had to endure a rain delay, but
they took the nightcap of the twinbill.
That set up Saturday's exciting
KIAC title game. Bethel had a lead and a shot to kill a
rally with two outs in the seventh inning, leading 4-2.
But sometimes things happen. Just ask Brandon Larson of
the Reds.
Don't get me started. If you
aren't a Reds' fan - which most of you aren't - then it
won't matter. Suffice it to say, I've gone through
numerous rolls of antacid and been tempted to partake of
spirited beverage, though I'd never do that.
The season doesn't end for BC,
despite the tough setback. They enter the KIAC
tournament as the No. 2 seed and will have plenty of
incentive and confidence to earn that NAIA regional bid.
Think about it: The Wildcats had
to face a nationally-ranked team on the road, under
unsavory conditions after traveling nearly five hours
that morning. If the KIAC tournament was played at
Churchill Downs, Bethel College would be a safe wager at
the betting line...not that I'd ever do anything like
that.
* * *
That night, after the split, BC
was guest of Spalding University's residence halls. En
route to their road digs, they had eaten their post-game
meal after walking through the Wendy's drive-through.
You read right.
They got the restaurant too late
to take advantage of its dining room and each player had
to place his order on foot.
Bethel may not have captured the
KIAC crown, but 20 years from now, these players won't
remember that. They'll remember "that time when we
walked through Wendy's."
Good times. |
