Rebels Sweep Houston County in Home-Away Set

McKENZIE/ERIN (March 16-17) — McKenzie High School began district baseball play Monday and Tuesday with a home-away set against Houston County. The Rebels dominated the home game, 8-0, and won the road game handily, 5-1.

McKenzie Rebels 8, Houston County Fighting Irish 0

McKenzie scored two runs in the bottom of the first, then added three in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Rebel Cooper Davidson was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Xander Johnsey was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Cole Brown was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Maddox Shiell was 2-for-3 with a double. Lelan Gordon was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Ace Brown was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Fletcher Holt was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Aiden Legens was 1-for-3.

Irish Ryder Forrester was 2-for-3. Malachi Rouse was 1-for-3 with a double. Brady Donahue was 1-for-2, and Noah Herron was 1-for-3.

Xander Johnsey got the complete-game shutout for McKenzie, allowing five hits while walking one and striking out nine.

Ryder Forrester took the loss for Houston County, allowing six earned runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out four in five innings. Grayson Mitchell pitched the final frame, allowing two earned runs on four hits with no walks.

Rebels 5, Fighting Irish 1

McKenzie struck first with a run in the top of the first frame, then added a run each in the fourth and sixth. The Rebels plated two in the top of the seventh, and Houston County mustered one run in the home half.

Rebel Fletcher Holt was 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs. Maddox Shiell was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Avery Brown was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Ace Brown was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Xander Johnsey was 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Lelan Gordon was 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.

Irish Ryder Forrester was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Brody Harris was 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Carson Spurgeon was 1-for-1. Hayden Burgess and Tripp McMillan were each 1-for-3.

Fletcher Holt earned the win for McKenzie, allowing no runs on five hits while walking none and striking out seven in six innings. Cooper Davidson pitched the final inning, allowing one unearned run on one hit with no walks and one strikeout.

Sonny Reames took the complete-game loss for Houston County, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out eight.