By JIM STEELE

I talked to Huntingdon coach Alan Eubanks before McKenzie's Tuesday night game with Central. He was still buzzing a bit over his team's winners' bracket victory against McKenzie. But he also noted that it was very symbolic of what this baseball rivalry has been lo these many years.

"It's always like this when we play them," said the Mustang coach.

And he's right. And it should be that way when two quality baseball teams get after it. When McKenzie and Huntingdon play, there is always spirit, animation, grit, pressure. When one team wins, there's euphoria, when the other loses, there is despair.

For two straight games, euphoria has been colored blue and gold. That's something to think about for a second. Huntingdon has beaten McKenzie two straight times. Wednesday afternoon, McKenzie will need to beat Huntingdon twice to win the District 13A title and earn a first-round home game in the Region 7A tournament.

Huntingdon has beaten us two straight times. Why can't McKenzie beat them two in a row? It can be done. After the Rebels' victory over Bruceton Tuesday, McKenzie coach Lynn Yarbrough recalled his team's 11-1 victory over Huntingdon. He knows that his team is capable of raking like that against the Mustangs. I likened the Rebels lineup to the New Madrid Fault. It has been rumbling with 2.0 quakes here and there, but it's capable of an 8.5. McKenzie has power one-through-nine and an ability to move people over. In addition, there is some speed in the lineup. McKenzie can easily be a first-to-third team.

This doubleheader (yes, thinking optimistically) will be a big litmus test for the Rebels. As Parker Jones said Monday night, McKenzie will face teams like Huntingdon the rest of the way. If McKenzie can't score runs against a good team like Huntingdon, how is it expected to do damage in the regionals against Union City or Trenton or maybe another substate clash against JCS or Adamsville. There's no need to go any farther than substate because if the Rebels don't hit, summer starts early.

McKenzie doesn't have to play perfect if it hits the ball. Huntingdon has show that it can makes errors, too. McKenzie just can't make as many as they have in the past two games. Nine defensive miscues are way too many. And the baserunninng blunders that don't show up in the scorebook have been costly, too. All the Rebels need to do is relax, look for something good to hit and then drive it somewhere. The Rebels need to get the jump early in both games.

It won't matter who pitches if the Rebels can rake. Baseball is a game where being ahead is so important. That means working ahead in the count as a hitter, working ahead in the count as a pitcher and working ahead on the scoreboard. Teams who play with leads tend to win and players who can work ahead in the count have a better chance to be successful. That's basically it in a nutshell when it comes to the Mustangs.

Heed Jones' words. To cut it at the next level means you have to get it done at this level. Wednesday night will be the night to leave it all out on the field. Chances are McKenzie will face Braden Baxter and Cole McAdams. It's not likely Burke will pitch unless it's in a spot role. We've had success against McAdams and we haven't seen Baxter. But we have good hitters. McKenzie's work is cut out, but it's not impossible. It's not even improbable. After all, McKenzie was the top seed coming into the tournament. It should follow that the Rebels should be favored, right?

Rest assured, Huntingdon will be ready to play. The Mustangs have an excellent squad, but so does McKenzie. The question is how badly does McKenzie want to be at home on Monday? If the Rebels can manage a home game on Monday, it's a pretty good bet they'll be at home again on Wednesday...and perhaps Friday. But it's up to them. How bad do they want it. I can assure you Huntingdon will want it badly.