Rebels Top Whitwell in Opener

LEBANON (May 21) — The McKenzie Rebels opened the TSSAA Class 1A Baseball State Championship Wednesday with a 6-1 win over Whitwell.

McKenzie struck first with a run in the top of the third inning and added a run in both the fifth and sixth. Whitwell got on the board with a run in the bottom of the sixth. The Rebels plated three insurance runs in the seventh.

Rebel Fletcher Holt was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Tate Surber went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Cole Brown was 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two stolen bases. Cooper Davidson went 2-for-4.

Tate Surber earned the win for McKenzie, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out eight and walking two in five and a third innings. Xander Johnsey threw an inning of relief, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one and walking none. Fletcher Holt got the final two outs with no runs on one hit with a strikeout and no walks.