By JIM STEELE

The luster of the 2006 state baseball trophy is casting a rather long shadow and its memory, while intense, is sinking over the horizon and the glow is dimming.

But this is a new baseball season. On the surface, one might surmise that the 2007 Rebels may have had a lousy season. They were 17-18. One might believe that MHS suffered a bit of a hangover after celebrating the state title in May of 2006.

They would be wrong. This bunch followed a group of seniors who got the lion's share of playing time for several years. For the most part, last year's Rebels were untested. These guys weren't used to being in leadership roles, having to produce on a regular basis. And yes, it showed early. The Rebels suffered some tough losses, made a lot of errors, struggled on the bases and weren't up to snuff on their plate approaches.

But as the season went on, these Rebels grew into themselves. They grew into leaders. They grew more confident. McKenzie had a great run through post-season, including that big do-or-die victory at Humboldt in the first round of the Region 7A tournament. They qualified for substate again and were four games away from winning another state title.

This team of newcomers became a team of veterans, confident and ready to start the 2008 season. And why not? Consider that McKenzie loses only two seniors from last year's team (and only one saw significant playing time). Almost everybody is back and returning with experience and confidence. The starting rotation is a steady four-man shuffle and could be five if the Rebels so choose. There are probably 15 players competing for eight spots. There is speed, power, pitching, seasoning. These are all positive things.

Furthermore, consider that the Rebels lost nine games last year by three runs or less. The game at Lexington was McKenzie's until it let the Tiger off the hook in a 5-2 loss. Then the Rebels lost three times to Huntingdon by a total of four runs. McKenzie suffered close losses to mediocre Trinity and Scotts Hill teams and then sustained an 8-7 home loss to Bruceton after delivering a mercy-rule slaughter just a few nights earlier on the road.

Think about this for a second, though. What if a couple of bounces had gone the Rebels' way? What if a couple of shots had found the gap? Take those nine close losses and add them to the win column. Then the Rebels are 26-9 and not 17-18. You will recall that McKenzie won the state title with a 29-8 mark. Think of how close this team could have been with a little seasoning?

Well they have that this year. This is a good baseball team. Yes, it has a new coach in Lynn Yarbrough, who replaces Jeremy Maddox after his surprise departure the day after the baseball banquet last June. It's going to be a transitional period to be sure. Things will be different. Coaches do things in different ways.

That said, the Rebels have to focus on playing baseball. They have to focus on doing the little things to make themselves better. They have to work hard at practice as if a state title hangs in the balance, because it just may. These players must focus on the things they can control and not worry about stuff out of their hands. These things are hitting, fielding, throwing, running the bases, knowing where to throw the ball, making good throws to relays and on and on.

During basketball, coach Yarbrough had problems with some freelancing players. When the guys did what the coach said during hoops, the results weren't bad. In fact we looked pretty good. When we quit listening, kept shooting dumb threes, quit playing our defensive assignments and worked from a different agenda, it was embarrassing. Attitude will determine how these Rebels do this year. If they freelance, march to their own beat, become unfocused, the Rebels won't be able to win the girls' t-ball softball championship, let alone District 13A.

We are McKenzie Rebels. We have a championship baseball program. People pull into the parkling lot at the city park and see the sign. But that sign's impact won't last forever. Those seniors of 2006 were some of the best leaders MHS has ever seen. Why? The were focused. The only stat they were worried about was the one out in left field where it says, "home" and "visitors." They didn't care who got the credit, only that the job got done. And that attitude was infectious. By the end of the 2006 season, players one through nine in the order were contributing with huge hits and big plays. We expect to win championships. we aren't happy just going to "The Dance." We don't bring spectators to Murfreesboro. We go hard or go home.

That 2006 team was legendary, but related to the word "legend" is the word "legacy." They have the same roots. Some of the guys on this team were big contributors to that state title. They can revere the legends or continue the legacy. The shine of that championship trophy is dimming and it's time for this crew to shine a new light, create their own legends. McKenzie won the Class A title when it was perhaps the toughest Class A draw in 20 years. Mike Minor of Forrest was there, Huntingdon with its wealth of talent was there, Trousdale County with its veterans was there, Summertown with its heavy hitters was there. And the Rebels won. Some say that in 2006, Class A may have been the toughest division of all. Yet, we won.

Well, gone is Drew Hayes and those seven other MHS seniors, Minor, Cody Crocker, Spencer Clifft, Brandon McCormick and all those good Huntingdon players. The draw ought to be at least a little easier this year and we return a wealth of talent. The path is laid out for the Rebels. If they have that look in their eye, that sigularity of purpose, that drive and dedication, much like the Rebels did two years ago, there is no reason why we can't order up a new set of rings. If things go south and it's not the cause of massive injuries, then all the Rebels will have to do is look in the mirror to assign blame for the meltdown.

Rebels, it's up to you guys. The season starts this week, weather permitting. Start hot, get on a roll, let people know they are dealing with the Rebels. Do that and I'll see you in Murfreesboro about 10 weeks from now as we prepare to battle for our fourth state title in the 2007-08 school year. We know how to get there, but getting there is going to be the hard part. What say you, Rebels?