Post Photo by Chris Siers Luke Allen safely slides into second base and beats the throw against Newton Falls.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
CHAPEL HILL — The Forrest Rockets won their fifth and sixth-straight games over the weekend while hosting a satellite location of the Mid South Classic baseball tournament.
On Friday, the Rockets crushed Newton Falls (Ohio), 19-2 and edged out a 7-6 win over Richland on Saturday.
Against Newton Falls, once the runs started, they didn’t stop for the Rockets.
Preston Gentry set the stage for a nine-run first inning with a two RBI triple and the Rockets lever let off the throttle.
Kason Fuller added a RBI double in the inning, and Carter Walk tacked on a pair of runs on a double of his own.
Houston Matlock also connected on a first-inning double, scoring Walk.
Gentry led Forrest at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Tyler Baxter, Chris Sonnenburg, Connor Harmon and Fuller all drove in two runs.
In total, the Rockets hammered Newton Falls’ pitching staff for 13 hits, seven of which went for extra bases, including two triples.
Paxton Mealer got the nod and pitched well for the Rockets, giving up just two runs on two hits while striking out five in four innings pitched.
Newton Falls 000 2 — 2 2 6
Forrest 927 1 — 19 13 0
Forrest: Tyler Baxter 1-for-2, Chris Sonnenburg 1-for-2, Brennan Mealer 1-for-2, Preston Gentry 2-for-3, Connor Harmon 1-for-1, Kason Fuller 2-for-2, Travis Porter 1-for-1, Carter Walk 1-for-2, Luke Allen 1-for-1, Mathew Morgan 1-for-1, Houston Matlock 1-for-3.
WP: Mealer
Post Photo by Chris Siers Carter Walk connects and safely reaches base against Newton Falls.
FORREST 7, RICHLAND 6
Despite being out-hit 13-3, the Rockets ended the weekend on a high note, taking a 7-6 win over the Richland Raiders to close out a busy run in the Mid South Classic.
Preston Gentry slugged a three-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth inning, which ultimately was the game-winning hit.
Prior to Gentry’s blast, Forrest scored four runs in the bottom of the third, two of which came off Richland errors and two more off a wild pitch and a sac-fly.
Leading 4-1, the Raiders rallied for five runs on five hits, including a two RBI double to take a 6-4 lead over Forrest.
Colton Johnson pitched 3 2/3 innings for Forrest before Kason Fuller pitched the final 1 1/3 innings.
Richland 001 50 — 6 13 3
Forrest 004 3x — 7 3 1
Richland: Tyler Baxter 1-for-1, Preston Gentry 1-for-3, Paxton Mealer 1-for-2.
WP: Fuller
