By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

SOUTH FULTON - The McKenzie Lady Rebel softball team lived too close to the edge Monday afternoon in a do-or-die Region 7A tilt against South Fulton.

The Lady Rebels clinged percariously to a lead for much of the game and the Lady Red Devils had runners in scoring position inning after inning. But McKenzie made play after pay in the field, keeping South Fulton off the board. And if it did break through and score a run, McKenzie would counter with a score of its own to keep their hosts at arm's length.

For 5 2/3 innings, McKenzie played perhaps its best game of the year. But with two outs in the sixth and the Lady Rebs leading 5-3, the dam broke. South Fulton scored five runs with two out in the sixth then held off MHS for a heartbreaking 8-5 victory.

South Fulton, 22-8, secured a berth in Region 7A championship and will host Huntingdon Wednesday. Moreover, it has earned a substate bid Friday at a site to be determined. Meanwhile, McKenzie's season ends at 13-17.

"They would get a run and we'd come back for another run," said MHS coach Jessica Hardy. "We made a few errors, but instead of dwelling on it, we got it out of our heads. But you can't have a team like that hang around because they'll come back and get you."

McKenzie broke out of the gate early. Evan Hudgins walked and moved to second on Kate Barcroft's sacrifice bunt. Tenisha Carey blooped a double and Tenisha Bowden roped a two-bagger, scoring two runs. South Fulton had a chance to break it open early, though. A walk and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second for the Lady Red Devils. Barcroft got busy in the outfield with one out. She squeezed a fly ball for the second out and then cut down a runner at the plate to end the inning. No damage done.

"Kate made a nice catch and a great throw," said Hardy. "And when she came into the dugout, the first person to congratulate her was Kenisha Williams, a girl she is sharing time with in left field. I knew right then that we had a team effort going today."

The Lady Rebels left two on in their half of the second. South Fulton knotted the game in its half with an RBI single and and error, but left the bases loaded.

Back came McKenzie in the third. Carey singled, took second on a fielder's choice and with two out scored on an error after Kelsie Poore's single. COlby Prosser ripped an RBI double into right-center and McKenzie led 4-2. In the Lady Red Devil half, South fulton scored a run on an error, but left two runners stranded, one in scoring position.

Hudgins walked to start the fourth and took second on a sacrifice bunt, then motored to third when she saw the bag uncovered. A throw down went into left field and Hudgins scored for a 5-3 lead. From there, Freshman pitcher Crystal Doub only allowed one runner, a lead-off walk in the fourth, and it seemed McKenzie's shot at a substate berth for the first time since 2006 was all but in the bag. But a five-run fifth with two outs ended those aspirations.

With two out in the seventh, Bowden singled with two out, but was left there when the game ended.

Senior Sarah Owen started the game, walking three and allowing two hits. Doub worked four innings, giving up seven hits, two walks while fanning two.

Bowden was 3-4 with two RBI, Carey was 2-5, Colby Prosser doubled in a run and Carr was 1-2. Hudgins walked three times and scored twice.

"I was pleased with the effort and attitude today. It's as if we found new life and a spark," said Hardy. "But give them credit; they just kept chipping away."

McKenzie waves goodbye to three seniors: Lesley Robertson, COlby Prosser and Sarah Owen. For Hardy, it was her last game as McKenzie coach as well. In her first year, she led McKenzie to a substate bid. Last year, the Lady Rebels were stunned by Clarksburg in the District 13A tournament, but the team returned to the regional pay this season.

Hardy reflected on her three-year tenure.

"After the game, I told the girls that I may not have been born and raised in McKenzie, but in 12 years of being in and around this area, I feel as much as a Rebel as if I had growing up here," she said. "That's what makes it hard. I care a lot about these adies and their success on and off the field."

McKenzie ends its season at 13-17. Meanwhile a search is on for Hardy's successor next season. Word of that may come next month sometime.