Reid Gentry tossed a gritty 6 2/3 innings to take the win on the mound for the Rockets. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
CHAPEL HILL — With starting pitcher Reid Gentry due up to lead the Rockets off in the bottom of the sixth inning, Forrest head coach Andy Burkett told Gentry he wanted him to finish the night on the mound and finish the game.
Although Gentry hit his pitch limit after recording two outs in the top of the seventh, Tyler Baxter took over on the mound and needed just one pitch to finish the game as the top-seeded Rockets locked down the District 9-2A championship with the 7-2 win over No. 2 seed Cascade.
“It was incredible. It was going to be between Reid (Gentry) or Tyler (Baxter). Reid has come in and closed so many district ball games for us. He’s made a few starts here
The Forrest Rockets pose with their District 9-2A championship plaque. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
and there. His arm is just live. He has a ton of movement on his pitches,” Burkett said.
Gentry was stellar for the Rockets and pitched around trouble a few times, going 6 2/3 innings on the mound and allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out six.
It wasn’t just Gentry’s efforts on the mound, but the Forrest defense played well behind him, highlighted by a key double play in the top of the sixth inning.
“He (Gentry) kept them off balance. They squared a couple of balls up here and there. A lot of credit to our defense, too. They stepped up big, made some big plays in the outfield, rolled a double play in a big moment when we needed it and Reid did what Reid does—he pitched well in a big ball game,” Burkett said.
Cascade grabbed the early lead off Gentry and got back-to-back hits in the top of the first.
Xykaiah Dixon doubled to deep center field and later scored off a Caleb Crouch RBI single to right.
After the Rockets were sat down in order in the bottom of the frame, Forrest executed some small ball
Center fielder Houston Matlock makes a sliding catch to record an out. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
in the second and relied on some savvy at-bats to leapfrog out in front.
Luke Allen drew a lead-off walk and after Blaze Bourne laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position, Travis Porter followed on base with a walk.
With two on and one out, Allen eventually rounded the bases and scored on a passed ball.
Gentry helped his own cause with a hard-hit ground ball and safely reached on an error, allowing Matthew Morgan to score the go-ahead run to put the Rockets up 2-1.
A third Forrest run scored in the inning when Baxter drew a bases-loaded walk.
After jumping up to a 3-1 lead, Cascade again threatened in the top of the third with a lead-off hit batter and a single to put two on with nobody out.
But even with the Champion threat, Gentry settled in and sat down the following three Cascade batters to end the inning.
Forrest kept the
Tyler Baxter raises a fist in celebration after recording the final out against Cascade in the District 9-2A championship. He tossed just one pitch to record the final out of the game. He was also named the District 9-2A MVP. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
opportunistic approach going in the third and plated three more runs off two Cascade errors.
Cascade took advantage of a Forrest error in the top of the fifth and pushed a second run across the plate, only to see the Rockets answer in the bottom of the inning after Gentry reached on a double and Lane Smith mashed a single to right, allowing Matthew Morgan to score.
Forrest was able to chase Cascade starter Wickey Parker after just 1 1/3 innings.
“I thought he (Parker) had some plus-plus stuff. He’s been good. I knew it might be a tight ballgame at that point in time and so I knew we were going to need to manufacture some runs, maybe be able to put some plays in motion and get us some runners in scoring position. I’m just glad our guys executed and did what they are supposed to do,” Burkett said.
Forrest managed just four hits off three Champion pitchers, but was able to execute on the basepaths and take advantage of the Cascade miscues in the field.
Gentry’s sixth-inning double was the biggest hit of the night for the Rockets, while Kason Fuller, Morgan and Smith all singled.
With the win, Forrest now gets to host the upcoming Region 5-2A tournament, which Burkett said will be a huge advantage as the postseason moves forward.
“One of our goals was to be able to host all of our district ball games at home and now we’re going to be able to host our region tournament. The other teams are going to have to travel to Chapel Hill. We have some of the most amazing fans that anybody could ever ask for. The atmosphere tonight was absolutely incredible. Because of that, I like our chances a lot,” he said.
Cascade 100 010 0 — 2 5 3
Forrest 033 001 x — 7 4 3
Forrest: Kason Fuller 1-for-2, Matthew Morgan 1-for-2, Reid Gentry 1-for-3, Lane Smith 1-for-2.
WP: Gentry
LP: Parker
