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The McKenzie Rebels defeated the McEwen Warriors 15-0 and 17-0 in a doubleheader at McKenzie. The Rebels and Warriors played a total of six innings for the day.
Braden Birmingham cleated the rubber for the first game, and Nolan Renfro, heaved the second game, and recorded the shutout no-hitters.
The Rebels had six hits in the first game of the two-game night. McKenzie scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning. Hayden Hixon walked down the chalk to first base after five pitches. Ty Anderson tripled to right center to score Hixon. The Rebels held a 1-0 lead over the Warriors after the first inning.
The Rebels earned most of their runs in the second inning with four hits, six walks, ten runs and no strikeouts. Tate Surber started the bottom of the second walking down the baseline to first. Surber advanced to second base on a balk. Renfro singled up the middle to score Surber. Renfro reached third base on an overthrow and scored on a passed ball. Lane Anderson stepped up to the dish and walked down the line to first, then reached third on a passed ball. Hayden Garrett followed Anderson down to first base and then stole second base. Jackson Cassidy hit a ground ball to the shortstop but scored Anderson. Garrett crossed the plate on a passed ball to move the score to 5-0 with two outs. Ty Anderson strolled down the chalk to first base then advanced to second on a passed ball. Birmingham doubled to center field to score Anderson. Jake Cassidy took one for the team then moved to second base on a passed ball. Surber stepped up to the plate again and ripped a double to score Birmingham and Cassidy. Surber was aggressive on the basepath and scored on a passed ball. Renfro walked to first base, then Lane Anderson doubled to right field to score him. Anderson scored on passed balls behind the plate to make the score 11-0 at the end of the second inning.
The Warriors were sat down with one strikeout and two putouts to put the Rebels back on the scoring side of the ball. The Rebels had no mercy on the Warriors and scored their final four runs in the bottom of the third. Dawson Brush walked down to first base. Gage Crosland bunted the ball to move Brush to second. Birmingham walked the chalk to first. Brush advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on an error by the catcher. Jake Cassidy stepped into the box and singled to right field and scored Birmingham. Jake Cassidy advanced to second base on a balk then scored from there on two wild pitches. Tate Surber trotted down the first base line after five pitches, then advanced to third on wild pitches as well. Luke Toombs took one for the team, and Xander Johnsey walked down the line to fill the bases. Hayden Garrett stepped into the box and took one for the team to score the final run. The Rebels defeated the Warriors 15-0.
Birmingham pitched a total of 41 pitches and struck out six batters and gave up one walk.
The Rebels were still on a roll to start the second game of the night and scored eleven runs in the first inning. Hayden Hixon started the scoring with a solo home run. Ty Anderson singled to right field then stole second base. Birmingham reached second base on an error that scored Anderson. Jake Cassidy grounded to shortstop that made an error that scored Birmingham and landed Cassidy on second base. Tate Surber singled to the left side to score Cassidy. Renfro walked to first base, Dawson Brush took his place at first. Lane Anderson singled. Hayden Garrett singled to left field to score Renfro. On an overthrow, Anderson scored, and Garrett moved to third base. Jackson Cassidy grounded out to the left side, and Garrett scored. Hixon stepped up to the plate again and reached second on an error. Hixon scored on passed balls. Ty Anderson hit a solo home run. Birmingham grounded to the left side and rounded the bases to second on an error. Jake Cassidy walked down the line, then Surber singled to score Birmingham. Cassidy and Surber were stranded on base as the first inning came to a close. The Rebels led 11-0 at the end of the first inning.
The Warriors were still struggling at the plate. With a line out to shortstop and a fly out to the first baseman, then a strikeout, the Warriors were sent back into the field.
McKenzie finished off the game with six runs in the second inning. Xander Johnsey singled to the right side. Garrett tripled up the middle then crossed the plate when Jackson Cassidy singled to center field. Hixon singled up the middle, then Fletcher Holt stepped up to the plate. Holt singled to score Cassidy. Birmingham walked down the chalk to fill the bases. Hixon scored on a passed ball. Tate Surber grounded out to third base, but scored Holt. Birmingham scored off of a single by Renfro.
Renfro held the Warriors scoreless in the third inning to finish off the game. Renfro had three strikeouts and pitched to a total of nine batters throwing 39 pitches.
The Rebels travel to Dresden Thursday, April 27 and then Stewart County Friday, April 28. The Rebels final home game will be against the Waverly Central Tigers on May 1. First pitch is 5 p.m.
