By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

Once again, the McKenzie Rebel baseball team will find itself in some familiar surroundings.

The Rebs, 23-10, will attempt to avenge last year's substate loss when they travel to Jackson Christian School, 26-11, 6 p.m. Friday. The Eagles defeated Middleton 13-3 after leading 4-2 in the sixth to win the Region 8A title for the second straight season.

Clint Kee is scheduled to get the ball Friday. He has a 7-3 mark on the season and suffered the hard-luck loss against Huntingdon. He also was the starter in last year's 10-4 substate loss at JCS. Kee and Bugs Smith combined pitching efforts as the Eagles pounded out 11 hits, including two homers.

But it's not all gloom and doom for Kee against the Eages. He has experienced some success. He struck out 10 in a 9-1 victory at JCS's field last month and he wanted the ball.

"Clint will start tomorrow and if we need him, we have Parker Jones," said McKenzie coach Lynn Yarbrough. "We have a chance. We need to play well and get back to Murfreesboro."

In that game, Kyle Kirk hit a line-drive homer over right-center field. Nick Chappell homered and singled. Drew Brown was hit twice and went 1-3. Tyler Reeder singled and was beaned, Luke Anderson singled and walked, Brandon Sellers went 2-4.

Last year, The Rebels jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Anderson led off with a walk, took second on Kee's sacrifice bunt, then Brown doubled to plate Anderson. O.C. Melton, running for Brown, swiped third on a passed ball, then scored on Rusty Chapman's sacrifice fly ball. Kee worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, then retired the Eagles in order in the second and third. But Blake Taylor had a hot bat, blasting the first of his two homers and propelling the Eagles to a five-run frame.

Taylor launched a three-run blast in the fifth to give JCS an 8-2 lead, but Derek Carr rocketed a two-run shot over the centerfield wall and the Rebs trailed 8-4. JCS plated two more in the sixth.

Patrick Taggert led the Eagles with a 3-4 day and a double. Taylor was 2-4 with a pair of homers and four RBI. Jay Fowler was 2-4 with an RBI. Chase Pressley was 2-4 with an RBI, then-eighth grader Noah Chandler was 1-3 and was hit by a pitch, Wood was 0-1, hit twice and walked once. Brett Barrett tripled and Michael Smith was 1-4.

Brown was 1-4 with a double and and RBI. Chapman was 0-3 with an RBI, Smith was 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. Carr was 1-3 with a homer and two RBI. Chappell had a single. Kee laid down a sacrifice bunt and beat out a dropped third strike in the seventh to keep the Rebels' hopes alive. Anderson walked and scored.

The winner of Friday's substate game heads to the Class A state baseball tournament and the Spring Fling at Murfreesboro. The loser ends the season.