By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

The McKenzie Rebels finished second in the always-tough Lexington Big Red Classic last week, bowing 7-5 to the host team in the championship round.

The Rebels have been pretty solid defensively, but slow to swing the bats thus far this year, but hit Lexington's ace pretty well in the finals and mounted a late charge against the Tigers that just fell short.

The Rebels trailed 7-2 going into the top of the seventh where they scored three runs and, for the second straigh year against the hosts, made it close. Last year, the Rebels had a lead early when fielding gaffes led to a 5-3 setback.

In the seventh, senior Drew Brown reached on an error and scored when senior Derek Carr doubled. Carr scored on NicK Chappell's single and Chappell came around as the Rebs closed the gap. But that's where the rally ended.

McKenzie scored two runs in the second frame to take a 2-1 lead. Tyler Reeder led off with a single to left and Luke Anderson doubled. Kyle Kirk and Brandon Sellers each singled, bringing Reeder and Anderson. But Lexington scored five in the second inning and one more in the fifth.

Chappell had a pair of hits, Carr and Anderson doubled while Kirk, Reeder and Brandon Sellers each had a hit.

The loss dropped McKenzie's mark to 5-4 to start the campaign.

McKENZIE 2, CLARKSBURG 1 at Lexington: McKenzie junior southpaw Nick Chappell fanned 15 Rockets in the Lexington Big Red Classic last Friday. He allowed four hits and one run in the Rebels non-district victory.

Both Rockets and Rebels reside in 13A, but this was not a categorized as a district game.

The Rebels scored a run in the third when Drew Brown reached on and error and scored on Derek Carr's single. In the fifth, Rusty Chapman singled and scored on Reeder's RBI hit for a 2-0 lead.

The Rockets managed a run in the sixth but that was that.

Reeder and Carr were each 2-3 with RBI. Chappell, Holt, Chappell and Parker Jones each had a hit.

PERRY COUNTY 12, McKENZIE 2 at Lexington: The Vikings scored nine runs in the fourth as they stunned the Rebels in the Big Red Classic.

McKenzie scattered six hits and managed a run in the first and the fifth. Brown scored in the first to give McKenzie a brief lead while Carr crossed in the fifth.

Carr and Reeder, Jones, Holt, Sellers and Logan Poore each had a hit in the game.

McKENZIE 3, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 2 at Lexington: Parker Jones struck out six, dispersed four hits and issued just a pair of walks in the Rebels victory.

McKenzie tied the game in the third and won the game in the seventh when Jacob Fussell led off with a single. McKenzie loaded the bases with one out when Fussell came home on Kirk's fielder's choice.

Kirk had a two-run homer in the third, his first career shot. His blast drove home Sellers who reached after being hit by pitch.

Trinity scored a run in the first and third.

Carr was 3-3, Reeder 2-3, Rhoads 1-3 and Kirk with the homer and three RBI.

McKENZIE 8, RIVERSIDE 7 at Lexington: The Rebels defeated old District 11AA rival Riverside in opening-round action of the Big Red Classic.

Tyler Reeder was 3-4 and led off the two-run second with a single. Parker Jones, 1-2 on the night, moved him with his hit. Anderson reached on an error. Both Reeder and Anderson scored to tie the game, 2-2.

In the third, the Rebs tied the game at 4-4 thanks to errors. Four errors resulted in runs scored by Chapman and Carr.

In the fourth, the Rebels added one more, but so did the Panthers and the game was tied at 5.

Carr was hit by a pitch in the fifth, Reeder followed with a double to bring home Carr. Jones walked and Anderson tripled and McKenzie led 7-5. The Panthers answered with two more in the sixth to tie the game again. Carr opened the seventh with a single and scored the eventual game-winner. Reeder singled, Jones walked and Anderson drove in Carr.

Chapman and Carr were each 1-3. Anderson was 2-4.

In the North Side Classic, the Rebels were 2-2 to open the season.

McKENZIE 13, GIBSON COUNTY 2 at Jackson: McKenzie exploded for 13 runs in the first three innings as the Rebels put away the Pioneers in a five-inning affair. Clint Kee struck out 12 GC hitters to collect the victory.

Drew Brown was 0-3 but scored three times and drove in a run. Chapman was 1-1 with three runs scored. Carr was 1-2 with two runs. Jones was 2-4, Anderson, Sellers and Kirk each had a hit.

LIBERTY 7, McKENZIE 2 at Jackson: McKenzie took a 2-0 lead in the third, but the 3A Crusaders erupted for seven runs in the fourth.

Chappell, Rhoads and Jones were each 2-2 in the game. Brown and Chappell each scored in the third frame. JOnes and Holt each delivered RBI.

HALLS 4, McKENZIE 0 at Jackson: The Tigers had a late-game cavalcade to take a 4-0 lead and dispatch the Rebels, spoiling what had been a pretty good pitching effort by Nick Chappell through four innings.

The anemic Rebels managed just four hits in the game. Brown, Carr, Chappell and Holt each had a hit.

McKENZIE 3, FIRST ASSEMBLY 1 at Jackson: McKenzie scored two in the third, one in the fifth and held off FACS for the season-opening victory. Clint Kee struck out 12 to lift McKenzie to the win.

Kee was plunked in the third and scored on Chapman's double. Chapman scored on Reeder's single.

In the fifth, Kee was hit again but made them pay. Brown doubled to drive his cousin in for the 3-1 lead. Brown and Chapman each doubled while Reeder singled.

McKenzie travels to Jackson for the SportsPlus Tournament. The Rebels battle Ripley 6:30 Wednesday at South Side's facility. The Rebels play two on Thursday and one game on Friday.