Quick start leads to Rockets’ sweep over Vikings

Anthony S. Puca Sports Editor
Posted 4/20/21

An eighth-inning RBI double by Braden Bowyer and run scoring base hit by Justin Gillespie, plus some clutch relief work on the mound by Kain Moses and Max Kirby led the Rockets’ to a 7-6 extra-inning win on Monday night at Unionville.

On Tuesday night at Chapel Hill, the Rockets didn’t need any late inning drama as the pounded out 12 more hits and got a combined shutout by freshman Preston Gentry and Moses on the mound in a 10-0 six-inning, run-rule win over the Vikings.

“I think we kept the positive momentum we had from the previous night and really just rolled it into a combined effort Tuesday night,” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said. “I couldn't be more proud of our guys for the determination they had to get these two wins, especially knowing how much they meant to us in the long run of district tournament seeding.”

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Quick start leads to Rockets’ sweep over Vikings

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An eighth-inning RBI double by Braden Bowyer and run scoring base hit by Justin Gillespie, plus some clutch relief work on the mound by Kain Moses and Max Kirby led the Rockets’ to a 7-6 extra-inning win on Monday night at Unionville.

On Tuesday night at Chapel Hill, the Rockets didn’t need any late inning drama as the pounded out 12 more hits and got a combined shutout by freshman Preston Gentry and Moses on the mound in a 10-0 six-inning, run-rule win over the Vikings.

“I think we kept the positive momentum we had from the previous night and really just rolled it into a combined effort Tuesday night,” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said. “I couldn't be more proud of our guys for the determination they had to get these two wins, especially knowing how much they meant to us in the long run of district tournament seeding.”

Gentry tossed five scoreless innings on the hill, giving up five hits while striking out two and walking two Community batters.

Moses came on in the sixth and escaped a two-on, no-out jam to preserve the shutout.

“I have been really impressed with our pitching staff over the past five games; from Austin Lampley pitching well against Columbia, Max Kirby pitching well against Moore County, Justin Gillespie and Braden Bowyer pitching well in relief in both those games, and now Cannon Cervantes, Kain Moses, Kirby, and Preston Gentry combined to take care of business versus Community, these guys are throwing strikes, using their strengths to their advantage, and more than anything else, they are building off of each other's momentum.”

“Whether asked to start a game, relieve a game, or close a game, these guys are bought in and I couldn't be more proud of them.”

Gentry faced four batters in the top of the first inning Tuesday night and in the bottom of the stanza, the Rockets plated four runs as they sent nine batters to plate.

Freshman Brennan Mealer dove in Forrest’s first run of the game, two more runs came home on Community wild pitches, and the fourth run of the frame was scored when Andrew Timmons was beaned by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Mason Russell doubled to lead off the top of the second for the Vikings and a two-out error put Community runners on the corners, but Gentry got out of the inning on a nice catch in center field by Cannon Cervantes, who went 4-for-5 at Unionville on Monday and had a pair of hits and an RBI on Tuesday.

Camden Vaughn reached base on a Community error to lead off the home half of the second, Cervantes followed with a sharp single left field, and Kirby was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Bryson Smith, who knocked in Vaughn with an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.

The Rockets reloaded the bases with one out, but Community reliever Zander Thurber came up with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game close.

Corey Paterick doubled to lead off the top of the third inning, but Gentry slammed the door shut with a pair of outfield fly outs and a ground ball to Moses at shortstop.

Forrest failed to score in the bottom of the stanza and Gentry escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the fourth inning to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard.

Smith drilled a one-out single in the bottom of the inning and stole second base before Mealer slashed a single to right field to put Rockets on the corners.

Mealer took off for second base and in the midst of the mix-up, Smith stole home and the Rockets led 6-0.

Moses followed with a base hit and Bowyer knocked in Mealer with an RBI sacrifice fly to put Forrest up 7-0.

Gentry faced four batters in the top of the fifth inning and the Rockets went down in order in the home half of the frame.

“I can't say enough about the young Preston Gentry, the kid is pitching in some pressure-cooker situations, and he is handling himself like a veteran,” Burkett said. “He's just a very talented pitcher: he's going to hit his spots, he's going to mix speeds, he's going to mix locations, and he's going to mess with your eye level.”

Moses came to the hill in relief of Gentry in the top of the sixth inning and the Vikings got two runners on base with no outs before Moses got out of the jam on a pop-up to Justin Gillespie at second base, a nice diving catch by Bowyer at first base on a pop-up bunt, and the inning ending out on a ground ball to Gentry at short.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Mealer doubled to left/center and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Moses’ infield single to make it 8-0.

Bowyer slammed a base hit and Clayton Clark came on as a pinch runner for Bowyer.

Timmons walked to load the sacks and Moses trotted home on an infield error before Clark was forced at home on grounder back to the mound.

Cervantes stepped in and stepped up once again, slashing a base hit down the left field line to score Timmons and end the game.

“Outside of really two games, we have swung the bats very effectively this year,” Burkett said. “Our hitting is what has kept us in most games this year, especially when our defense and pitching were less than stellar.”

“I think it's just a testament to our players that they have bought into this offensive philosophy that we are currently implementing: battle in count, attack in positive counts, make something happen in defensive counts, and use our speed to put the pressure on the defense. It's a simple philosophy, but when executed properly, you can see the results speak for themselves.”

The Rockets (13-7, 4-4), winners of five games in row, have two tough games this week as the host Summertown (16-3) on Thursday and travel to Page (9-15) on Friday.

“I’m really looking forward to these two games on Thursday and Friday,” Burkett said. “Summertown, year in and year out, is about one of the most complete baseball teams in Middle TN.” “I always look forward to playing these games against them, and very excited that we are getting to play them so late in the year near district tournament time.”

“Same thing can be said about Page. It seems like every time we play these guys it’s normally a one run or two run ballgame, and both teams always seem to play well against each other. These are just the right games we need to get our focus and our drive in the right direction toward the district tournament.”

Forrest’s last home and away District 12-AA series is next week when the Rockets travel to Murfreesboro Central Magnet (11-10, 4-4) on Monday and host the Tigers in Chapel Hill on Tuesday with both game starting at 6:30 p.m.

“We just need to control what we can control and take care of business next week versus Central Magnet,” Burkett said. “They had a huge win last night over Nolensville, finally handing the Knights their first district loss since 2018.”

“When their senior, Brady (Sengkounmany), is on the mound, they are as tough as anybody. We will need our ‘A’ game to be able to put the pressure on them and find a way to come out on top.”

District 12-AA Standings

Nolensville (14-9, 7-1)

Giles County (10-10, 5-3)

Forrest (13-7, 4-4)

Murfreesboro Central Magnet (11-10, 4-4)

Community (13-10, 2-6)

Marshall County (11-7, 2-6)

Community 000 000-0 6 2

Forrest 410 203-10 12 1

Community: Mason Russell 2-for-3, Corey Paterick 1-for-3, Dylan Norris 1-for-3, Ethan Greer 1-for-3, Justin Gillespie 1-for-4.

BB: Evan Petrie, Jacob Cooper.

2B: Paterick, Norris, Russell.

ROE: Cooper.

Team LOB: 9

Fielding

E: William Reed, Zander Thurber.

LP: Dylan Norris (1P, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 1K, 3BB).

Relief: Zander Thurber (1IP, 1R, 0ER, 2K, 1BB).

Relief: Ethan Greer (2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2K, 2BB).

Relief: Thomas Bailey (1.2IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 2K, 1BB).

Forrest: Brennan Mealer 3-for-3, Kain Moses 3-for-4, Cannon Cervantes 2-for-5, Bryson Smith 2-for-3, Camden Vaughn 1-for-3, Braden Bowyer 1-for-2.

BB: Vaughn 2, Andrew Timmons 2, Max Kirby, Mealer, Bowyer.

RS: Mealer 3, Smith 2, Moses 2, Vaughn, Kirby, Timmons.

2B: Mealer.

RBI: Bowyer, Cervantes, Justin Gillespie, Mealer, Moses, Smith, Timmons.

SF: Bowyer, Smith.

ROE: Gillespie, Vaughn.

HBP: Kirby, Timmons.

SB: Mealer, Smith.

CS: Clayton Clark.

Team LOB: 8

Fielding

E: Smith.

WP: Preston Gentry (5IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 2K, 2BB).

Relief: Kain Moses (1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0K, 0BB).