Tyler Baxter delivers a pitch for the Rockets. After some control issues at the start, Baxter settled down and allowed just one run in a complete game win. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
STAFF REPORT
CHAPEL HILL — Tyler Baxter was nothing short of gritty on the mound in the Region 5-2A championship against Lewis County on Saturday.
The Forrest ace gave up a first-inning run, but then pitched six-straight shutout innings as the Rockets rallied past the Panthers to take the region crown in a 2-1 thriller.
Baxter was shaky out of the gate and issued back-to-back walks to the Panthers before a sac-fly brought home the first run in the top of the first.
Forrest then managed just one baserunner over the next two innings.
But a key play in the top of the third gave the Rockets a shot in arm.
After Lewis County connected on a one-out single, the Forrest infield flashed the leather and turned a double play to end the Panther threat.
Houston Matlock then led off the bottom of the third inning with an in
The Forrest Rockets pose with their Region 5-2A championship hardware after defeating Lewis County 2-1 in the finals. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
field base hit and later rounded the bases and scored on two passed balls.
Later in the fourth, Kason Fuller drew a lead-off walk, setting the table for Luke Allen and Blaze Bourne to connect on back-to-back singles to load the bases.
Matthew Morgan then perfectly executed a squeeze, scoring Fuller for what proved to be the game-winning run.
From that point, Lewis County never really threatened and only put two more runners on base over the final three innings.
Fuller, Allen and Matlock all went 1-for-2 and Bourne finished 1-for-3.
On the mound, Baxter was nothing short of dominant, going the distance and allowing just one earned run on three hits.
The win advances the Rockets to the Class 2A sectional series, which Forrest hosts the Class 2A sectional series against Stewart County, which began on Wednesday evening and is set to conclude on Thursday.
Lewis Co. 100 000 0 — 1 3 1
Forrest 001 100 x — 2 4 1
Forrest: Kason Fuller 1-for-2, Luke Allen 1-for-2, Blaze Bourne 1-for-3, Houston Matlock 1-for-2.
WP: Baxter
