District Tournament Begins with Wild Rebel Comeback over Mustangs

McKENZIE (April 22) — The middle school baseball district tournament, hosted by McKenzie Middle School, began Wednesday with the Rebels facing Huntingdon. The visiting Mustangs had a 6-2 lead heading into the sixth and final inning, but the Rebels pieced together a five-run rally to claim a 7-6 win.

Both teams advanced in the double-elimination bracket, along with Camden, who earned a first-round bye as the top seed.

The Mustangs struck first with a run in the top of the first, answered in kind by McKenzie in the bottom half. Huntingdon regained the lead with a pair in the third, and the Rebels cut the deficit with a run in the fourth. The Mustangs added two more in the fifth and one in the top of the sixth before McKenzie rallied for five in the home half. The Rebels managed to load the bases with no outs. Three batters later, the score was tied, and another three batters later, Jackson Barden drove in the winning run with a walk-off, line-drive single.

Rebel Leighem Broyles was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rex Thompson was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Dierks Ghyers was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Jackson Barden was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Kenden Coleman was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Jake Ghyers was 1-for-4. Seth Stafford was 0-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Reed Gaskins was 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

Mustang Cohen Gray was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Bryce Maddox was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Max Kelley was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Elijah Harris and Nathan Huss were each 1-for-3 with an RBI. Banks Butler was 0-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Miller Holmes was 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.

Leighem Broyles got the start for McKenzie, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits while walking five and striking out four in four innings. Kenden Coleman pitched one inning of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks. Rex Thompson threw the final frame and earned the win, allowing no runs or hits while walking one and striking out one.

Bryson Bolen got the start for Huntingdon, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out six in five innings. Bryce Maddox faced three batters, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and no walks. Miller Holmes pitched the final third of an inning and took the loss, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout.