Third baseman Tyler Baxter takes aim and fires a throw to first for the out. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
SMYRNA — All season long, Forrest head coach Andy Burkett challenged his team to be “different.”
Led by his senior class, the team bought into the ideology and the results speak for themselves.
In the Class 2A state tournament semifinals against eventual state champion Lakeland Prep, Forrest held a two-run lead through the first four innings.
But a disastrous fifth inning, coupled with a three-spot in the top of the seventh, ultimately ended Forrest’s season, two games shy of reaching the Class 2A state title game with the 9-3 loss to Lakeland Prep.
Lakeland grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out RBI single by starting pitcher Ryan Pitts.
Forrest starter Houston Matlock worked out of the jam, despite giving up the RBI single and a pair of walks in the inning.
The Rockets backed their starter with a huge three-run second inning to
Rocket head coach Andy Burkett surveys the field in the state semifinal matchup against Lakeland Prep. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
jump out in front.
Matthew Morgan and Blaze Bourne led off the inning with a single and a double before Reid Gentry tied the game with a sac-fly RBI.
A sac-bunt and a walk loaded the bases for Forrest with one out and it was a hard-hit ball by Tyler Baxter that resulted in a pair of Lakeland Prep errors that allowed Bourne and Morgan to score, giving the Rockets a 3-1 lead.
For the next two innings, Matlock kept Lakeland’s bats whiffing and Forrest looked primed to force a second semifinal game on Friday of the tournament.
But there was no denying the eventual state champs, who rallied for five runs on three hits, a squeeze, two walks and a hit batter in a disastrous fifth inning.
Lakeland Prep put a cap on the game and plated three more in the top of the seventh to secure its spot in the Class 2A state championship.
Blaze Bourne went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, while Tyler Baxter was 1-for-4 with a double in his final performance with the Rockets.
Although the final stats line didn’t indicate it, Matlock pitched well through his 4 1/3 innings on the bump.
He was tagged for six runs on four hits, while fanning three.
Travis Porter worked the final 2 2/3 innings in relief for Forrest and gave up three runs on five hits.
Lakeland went on to claim the Class 2A championship, defeating Huntingdon 9-1 in the state championship.
The state tournament appearance marked the final time seniors Tyler Tackett, Tyler Baxter, Luke Allen and Kason fuller would suit up for Forrest.
The Rockets close the 2025 season as the District 9-2A champions, Region 5-2A champions and Class 2A state sectional champions with an overall record of 26-10.
Lakeland Prep 100 050 3 — 9 9 2
Forrest 030 000 0 — 3 6 0
Forrest: Tyler Baxter 1-for-4, Branham Haynes 1-for-3, Matthew Morgan 2-for-3, Blaze Bourne 2-for-3.
WP: Pitts
LP: Matlock
