By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

One might figure that the McKenzie Rebel baseball team had had enough of losing to Huntingdon. Going back to the Region 7A championship in 2006, the Mustangs have pretty much had their way with the Rebels.

Until Monday.

McKenzie hosted Huntingdon in a pivotal District 13A showdown and shook the blue and gold monkey from its back thanks to an 11-1 victory. Derek Carr cranked a three-run homer in the third and had a two-run double in the sixth to lead the McKenzie offensive avalanche. Then the Rebels strapped a saddle on starting pitcher Clint Kee. Kee struck out nine, allowed just one hit and issued just three walks in running his record to 6-0. He has struck out 72 batters on the season. It was McKenzie's first victory over Huntingdon since the Rebels defeated host Huntingdon on May 12, 2006. It was a 10-0 run-rule victory for the District 13A championship.

"Kee was the key, seriously," said McKenzie coach Lynn Yarbrough with a chuckle. "He shut down a pretty good hitting team. He was focused."

The Rebels scored thre in the third, one in the fifth and seven in the sixth to end the game early.

The Rebels made Huntingdon pursue in the third. Drew Brown led off the third with a walk, Chapman walked and Carr launched a blast over the right-center wall for the 3-0 lead.

"Carr's home run seemed to suck the wind right out of them," said Yarbrough. "It seemed they lost a lot of pep after that."

Kee was briefly challenged in the fourth when he allowed a lead-off double to Mustang left fielder Colin Laman. An error allowed Laman to score and Kee appeared to be frustrated a bit after walking second baseman Blake Burke. But the senior settled down to retire Caleb Crocker on a grounder then chopped up lefty Lucas Dill for his fifth strikeout of the game.

In the fifth, senior centerfielder Rusty Chapman singled and moved to second on Carr's sacrifice bunt. Junior Nick Chappell reached on an intentional pass. With two out, Parker Jones singled to drive in Chapman and the Rebels led 4-1. Jones had a two-run ground-rule double in the sixth as well.

"Parker predicted both hits," said Yarbrough. "He told me he was going to drive in runs and he did it twice."

In the sixth inning, McKenzie opened the floodgates. Senior rightfielder Kyle Kirk led the sixth with a single and stole second. Brown was plunked for the seventh time in four games, then Chapman reached on a quirky bunt hit that popped straight in the air, landed between Huntingdon hurler Cole McAdams and Crocker, the catcher. The ball rolled under Crocker. Chapman loaded the bases with nobody out. Carr ripped a ground rule double to score Jacob Fussell, running for Brown, and Kirk. Chappell was intentionally passed again, once again loading the bases with nobody out. Reeder singled to score Chapman. Then Jones ripped a two-run ground-rule double. With one out, Sellers singled to load the bases again. Kirk came to the plate for the second time in the inning, and got his second hit of the inning, bringing home Reeder and Jones for the game-winner.

"We really wanted this one and we're really coming together as a team," said Yarbrough of his team, which has won six games in a row, 11 of the last 12. "We've been rolling ever since the Gleason game and our seniors are pulling together. That's been the biggest difference. We're getting a lot of leadership."

Carr was 2-4 with five RBI, Chapman was 2-3, Kirk was 2-4 with two RBI, Jones was 2-4 with three RBI, Sellers was 2-4. Reeder had a single and an RBI on a fielder's choice and Anderson had a hit.

Laman had the lone hit for Huntingdon, a double. He scored the only run. McAdams had the Mustang RBI.

The Rebels, 16-5 overall, 5-0 in District 13A, turn around and travel to Huntingdon for a 6:30 p.m. start Tuesday night. Parker Jones will get the ball for the Rebels. Blake Burke is likely to climb the hill for the Mustangs, 17-8 overall, 8-1 now in District 13A play.