(Atwood - April 7) — The McKenzie Rebels took a win away from the War Eagles of West Carroll with relentless defense.

Drew Brown started action with a double. A well-placed groundout moved him to third base. Starting War Eagle pitcher Jeremy Blackwell struck out the next batter for the second out of the first inning. Rebel Jake Elliot knocked home the first run of the game with a single into the outfield. Blackwell struck out Rebel Tyler Reeder to end the top of the first inning.

West Carroll sent three up and three down to end the first inning with McKenzie leading 1-0.

Blackwell walked the first batter before striking out Luke Anderson for the first out of the second inning. Rebel Brandon Sellers was hit with a pitch to make it on base. Kyle Kirk hit a sacrifice groundout to advance the runners, but two were left stranded as Drew Brown hit a pop-up out.

Another strong defensive showing by McKenzie ended the second inning with the War Eagles striking out twice and popping up a foul, which was caught for the third out.

Third inning action began with a pop-up out by McKenzie. Rebel Jacob Fussell sent a double deep into the outfield. Elliot advanced Fussell to third base on a sacrifice groundout. Reeder ended the top of the third with a pop-up.

It was three up and three down for West Carroll again, as the third inning came to a close.

Rebel Parker Jones singled to start the fourth inning. Two groundouts followed. Kirk hit an RBI double to bring the score to 2-0. Brown followed with a RBI single to bring Kirk home and give the Rebels a 3-0 lead. Rusty Chapman hit a short infield groundout to end the top of the inning.

The War Eagles continued to struggle to put runs on the board as starting Rebel pitcher Clint Kee struck out the first batter. War Eagle Brett Singleton then hit a short infield groundout that McKenzie turned into a double play to end the fourth inning.

The Rebels started the fifth inning with a groundout, before taking advantage of some errors by West Carroll. Elliot made it on base due to a dropped ball in the outfield. Reeder hit a single as Elliot was thrown out at second. Jones walked and Luke Anderson was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Sellers swatted a single deep into left field to score two RBIs and bring McKenzie’s lead to 5-0. Kirk hit a pop-up to end the top of the fifth.

The War Eagles’ offensive struggle continued as Brandon Luther walked, but three strikeouts by Kee ended the fifth inning.

Brown walked to start the sixth. Singleton was brought in for relief pitching by the War Eagles. Chapman hit a shallow groundout that West Carroll turned into a double play. Fussell swatted a double. Elliot brought Fussell home with a double that was aided by a War Eagle error to increase the lead to 6-0. The top of the sixth inning ended with a pop-up.

Hope for a comeback was thwarted as West Carroll sent three up and three down to bring the sixth inning to a close.

Singleton forced a groundout to begin the final inning. Anderson hit a double and Sellers walked to put two on base. Kirk hit a single and Sellers was thrown out at second base. Brown tacked on two more runs with a solid double to bring the Rebels lead to 8-0 as Chapman grounded out to end the top of the seventh.

Blackwell hit a single before Singleton was struck out for West Carroll. Clint McClain made it on base due to a fielding error by McKenzie. Luther then struck out and Dalton Dunn grounded out to end the game as the Rebels won 8-0.

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• Mustangs Defeat West Carroll 12-1
• Lady Rebels Defeat Lady War Eagles 13-3
• Rebels Shut Out War Eagles, 8-0