By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings led for most of the game after putting up five runs in the opening inning, but the Forrest Rockets bounced back with a 6-run sixth inning to take the lead and the Rockets held off a late Viking rally to take a 7-6 win Monday night in a battle of the top two teams in District 9-2A.
After Viking hurler Wes Haley set the Rockets down in order in the top of the first, Community (12-10, 3-2) went to work in the bottom of the inning as Haley and Kaleb Maillet led off with doubles to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
Elijah Westbrooks connected on the third double of the inning with one out to drive in another run and give Community a 2-0 advantage.
The Vikings were recipients of three Rocket errors in the inning and scored their next run as Josh Powers was credited with an RBI after reaching base on an error as the Vikings went up 3-0.
Community wasn’t through as Ty Wood’s RBI-single put Community up 4-0.
There was a bit of controversy as the Rockets apparently got the third out of the inning to keep the score at 4-0, but after a long discussion by the umpires, the play was reversed and a balk was called to plate a Viking run and put Community up 5-0.
Forrest (15-7, 5-0) broke the ice with a run after two were out in the second as consecutive singles by Reid Gentry and Matthew Morgan scored a run with Morgan getting the RBI as the Viking lead was cut to 5-1.
Pitching took over through the fifth inning as Rocket starter Tyler Baxter and Haley settled in without any serious scoring threats.
It was 5-1 when the Rockets caught fire in a lengthy top of the sixth inning. Branham Haynes started the inning with a single and Kason Fuller connected on a home run as the Viking lead dwindled to 5-3.
Forrest kept the momentum going as Luke Allen doubled and scored on a wild pitch to move the Rockets within one at 5-4.
A sacrifice by Travis Porter drove in the tying run as the Rockets deadlocked the game at 5-5.
A Baxter single put Forrest up for the first time at 6-5 and a passed ball scored the sixth run of the inning as Forrest took a 7-5 lead.
The Vikings bounced back in the bottom of the inning as a Masyn Hill double brought Community within 7-6.
The Vikings loaded the bases, but could not tie or take the lead as Rocket reliever Gentry got the final out to preserve the Forrest lead going into the seventh.
After the Rockets went down in the top of the seventh, the Vikings threatened in the bottom of the inning.
Case Davis lead off with a single and a one-out walk to Dylan Markum put the winning runs on base.
With the winning runs in scoring position and two outs, Gentry got the final out on a strikeout as the Rockets remained unbeaten in district play.
Seven players each had one hit for the Rockets.
Six Vikings each had one hit to account for the six Community safeties.
Baxter was the winning pitcher for the Rockets, with Gentry coming on in the sixth to get the save.
Maillet and Logan Reed followed Haley and pitched in relief for the Vikings.
Forrest 010 006 0 — 7 7 5
Community 500 001 0 — 6 6 4
Forrest: Tyler Baxter 1-for-3, Branham Haynes 1-for-3, Kason Fuller 1-for-3, Luke Allen 1-for-4, Reid Gentry 1-for-3, Matthew Morgan 1-for-3, Lane Smith 1-for-3.
Community: Wes Haley 1-for-3, Kaleb Maillet 1-for-4, Case Davis 1-for-4, Elijah Westbrooks 1-for-4, Ty Wood 1-for-3, Masyn Hill 1-for-2.
WP: Baxter
LP: Maillet
SV: Gentry
Post Photo by Rickey Clardy
Rocket pitcher Tyler Baxter takes the throw from first baseman Kason Fuller for the out.
