By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

HUNTINGDON - There was good news Tuesday night in Huntingdon and it just kept getting better.

The McKenzie Rebel baseball team captured a 6-1 victory over Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central and remained alive in the District 13A tournament. That was good.

Huntingdon will host the Rebels 4:30 Wednesday for a chance at the District 13A title. McKenzie will have to beat the Mustangs twice to win it, but they have that chance. That was better news. With the win Tuesday, McKenzie secured a Region 7A bid for the third straight season. That was even better.

Best of all, however, was the fact that Parker Jones, normally a jokester with a cavalier demeaner, kind of scolded the team after a 6-4 loss to Huntingdon Monday night, explaining that the effort had to be better and that teams from here on in would be as good as Huntingdon or better. He also warned that Rebels had to re-dedicate themselves and to pick up the pace with the bats. He backed up Monday address with a stellar performance on the mound and at the plate. Jones struck out 11 Tigers, limited them to four hits, one run and no walks. He also got a two-run hit in the first inning to put MHS in front and had another RBI in the third. The Rebs never trailed.

McKenzie assured itself of two, perhaps three more games with the win.

Rebel coach Lynn Yarbrough was pleased with his senior's effort.

"Parker Jones was the story of the night," said the coach, with a beaming smile. "His curve ball was great and he was dominant. He nearly pitched a shut out."

And his bat work also drew praise.

"He had a big hit in the early innings like he said we should be doing last night," the coach said.

Derek Carr had a big night, too. He was 3-4 with a home run and three RBI. His fourth-inning shot was a line drive that left the yard and probably didn't go higher than 10 feet at any point in its flight.

"Carr's three-run homer was huge," said Yarbrough. "But coming back after losing like we did last night was huge. We played better and didn't make many errors."

The Rebels were plagued by five costly errors on Monday night. The committed only one on Tuesday night.

"Overall, we played better and a lot looser," said Yarbrough. "We seem to play better when the pressure is off."

McKenzie wasted no time in jumping on the Tigers for two runs in the first. Drew Brown led off with a double, Carr singled, Nick Chappell singled and Jones cranked a two-run hit. MHS led 2-0 at that point. In the third, Carr and Chappell each singled and Jones drove Carr in with a fielder's choice.

In the fourth, with two out, Brown and Chapman each singled, setting the table for Carr's blast. CHappell singled, but was erased at second on Jones' grounder.

Nick Bryant roped a run-scoring double in the fifth and that was basically the only blemish on Jones' pitching line. The Rebels stranded two in the fifth. Tyler Reeder was hit by a pitch and Kyle Kirk singled. The Rebels hit the ball hard that frame, but right to Tiger outfielders.

"The only thing that really concerned me is that we didn't score as many runs as I would have liked," Yarbrough said. "But we hit the ball hard. We're capable of hitting and scoring runs, but we left a few on base tonight."

Chapman and Chappell were each 2-4, Jones was 1-2 with three RBI, Reeder and Kirk each singled. Brown had a double.

McKenzie, 24-8, takes on the Mustangs, 23-7, 4:30 tonight at Huntingdon. If Huntingdon wins, it will capture the 13A title and a first-round home game in the Region 7A tournament. If McKenzie wins the first game, the two combatants will turn around and play another game. McKenzie must win both games to earn the 13A championship and host the first-round regional game on Monday.

According to Humboldt coach Greg Scott, Humboldt, Trenton and Union City remain alive for the District 14A championship. Trenton upset Humboldt and played Union City Tuesday night in the winners' bracket. Union City is being assisted, oddly enough, by former McKenzie coach Jeremy Maddox.