Rebels Dominate Irish to Begin District Play

McKENZIE (March 31) — The McKenzie High School Rebels began district baseball play Monday, hosting Houston County and slugging their way to an 11-4 victory.

McKenzie struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Houston County took the lead with a pair in the top of the second, but the Rebels pulled ahead with a pair in the home half. McKenzie pulled away with three runs in each of the third and fourth frames. The Irish plated a pair in the top of the fifth, but the Rebels matched that in the bottom half.

Rebel Fletcher Holt was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Xander Johnsey went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Craegen Travis batted 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Ace Brown hit 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Cole Brown was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Tate Surber went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Houston County’s Connor Mahoney was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Ryder Forrester went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Craegen Travis earned the complete-game win for McKenzie, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out five and walking none over seven innings.

Connor Mahoney got the start for the Irish, allowing eleven runs (five earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking three in five and a third innings of work. Ryder Forrester threw the final two-thirds of an inning, allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts and no walks.