Rebel pitcher Clint Kee prepares to throw after getting the signal from catcher Drew Brown.

HUNTINGDON (May 5) In District 13A baseball tournament action, the Huntingdon Mustangs utilized the pitching of Blake Burke and timely hitting to defeat the McKenzie Rebels, 6-4.

In the top of the first, Mustang Colin Laman led off by flying out to right. Brayden Baxter struck for the second out of the inning. Cole McAdams followed by ripping a single to center and stole second. Burke walked and was replaced by courtesy runner Adams. Mustang Lucas Dill smacked a line drive down the third base line to score McAdams and give Huntingdon a 1-0 lead. Adams, attempting to steal third, was thrown out to retire the side.

McKenzie went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the first.

Mustang hurler Blake Burke works from the stretch.

In the top of the second, Crocker led off by being awarded first after being hit by a pitch. Crocker stole second and slid safely into third after the throw to second flew into the outfield. Mustang Colin Hatch struck out. Dylan Clifft followed by smacking a RBI single to right to score Crocker and extend Huntingdon’ lead to 2-0. Smothers bunted and raced safely to first. Laman hit a hard grounder to third and reached first safely after the throw from the third baseman forced Rebel first baseman Tyler Reeder to leap high to catch it. With two out and bases loaded, Rebel hurler Clint Kee struck out Mustang Baxter to retire the side and strand three base runners.

McKenzie stranded two base runners and did not score in the bottom of the second.

Huntingdon stranded Burke and Crocker on second and third and did not score in the top of the third.

McKenzie scored one run in the bottom of the third via Derek Carr’s RBI single to center that scored Kyle Kirk and narrowed the Mustang lead to 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Huntingdon tacked on one run as McAdams ripped a single up the middle to score Laman and extend the Mustang lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Rebel Luke Anderson singled but was stranded on base and McKenzie continued to trail Huntingdon, 3-1.

In the top of the fifth, Mustang Lucas Dill reached first and was awarded second after hitting a two-hopper to second that was fielded and thrown into the Rebel dugout. Rebel pitcher Kee made a diving catch of Mustang Crocker’s pop-up bunt for the first out. Mustang Hatch reached first and Dill advanced to third via a third strike passed ball. Dill scored via a force out grounder to short to extend the Mustang lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rebel Kyle Kirk was thrown out at first after a third strike passed ball by Mustang catcher Crocker for the first out. Rebel Drew Brown flew out to right and Rusty Chapman flew out to right to retire the side.

In the top of the sixth, Laman led off by singling up the middle. Baxter and McAdams flew out to right for outs one and two. Following Burke’s walk, Mustang Dill ripped a one run RBI single up the middle to score Laman. Adams, replacing Crocker as substitute base runner, slid safely across home via a Rebel throwing error to widen the Mustang lead to 6-1.

McKenzie battled back in the bottom of the sixth. Following Carr’s ground out to third, Nick Chappell slid safely into first after his two-hopper to short was bobbled by Mustang Smothers. Parker Jones followed with a single to right that advanced Chappell to third. Stepping to the plate Rebel Tyler Reeder smacked a single to center to score Chappell and narrow the Mustang lead to 6-2. Luke Anderson reached first safely and loaded the bases after Mustang Smothers knocked down a two-hopper near second base but was unable to throw the ball to first. Jones scored after Mustang pitcher Burke beaned Rebel Brandon Sellers to narrow Huntingdon’s lead to 6-3. Burke battled back to strike out Kirk and force Brown to pop out to second to retire the side.

In the top of the seventh, Rebel third baseman Parker Jones threw out Mustang Hatch at first after back-handed a fierce one-hopper. Rebel hurler Kee struck out Mustang Clifft and forced Smothers to line out to Rebel second baseman Anderson to retire the side.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rebel batter Rusty Chapman singled up the middle. Carr followed by flying out deep to right. Chappell drilled a single up the middle to place runners on first and second. Jones battled at the plate before smacking a RBI single to score Chappell and narrow the Mustang lead to 6-4. Chappell was tagged out at the plate during a rundown for the second out. Mustang pitcher Burke struck out Reeder for the final out of the game as Huntingdon held on to claim a 6-4 victory.

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