Stories from Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Just a few weeks ago, the Forrest Rockets didn't seem to have any hope of post-season success until a coaching change brought Bart Joyce to the helm. Since losing a double-header to Eagleville on April 14, the Rockets have won nine of ten games under Joyce, including four straight in the post-season with the latest a 6-5 win over District 10-A runners-up East Robertson Monday night in the Region 5-A Tournament opener in Chapel Hill.

After watching former Cornersville staff ace Lucas Laster dominate opposing hitters for two years (2012-13), Columbia State Community College baseball coach Mike Corn added another talented left-handed CHS pitcher to his program on Friday morning when senior David Looney signed a letter of intent to play for the Chargers.

Senior pitcher David Looney was at his best when Cornersville needed him the most, as the Bulldog staff ace tossed his fifth shutout of the season to lead CHS to a 5-0 home victory over the Loretto Mustangs (23-12) in the first round of the Region 6-A tournament on Monday night. Facing the prospect of elimination from the playoffs, the Bulldogs (18-9) tallied a run in the bottom of the third to grab a 1-0 lead before crossing home plate four more times in the fifth inning to claim their fifth straight win.

Win and survive. Forrest did that after a sub-par performance against Houston County Monday night in the Region 5-A Tournament opener at the Field of Dreams at Chapel Hill. The Lady Rockets beat the Lady Irish from Erin, 3-2, earning a shot at the region title Wednesday night at East Robertson, who sneaked by Community, 2-1, in Cross Plains.

The Marshall County Tigerettes (19-10) were playing host to the Camden Central Lady Lions Monday night at Reese Hambrick Softball field. Being that the winner of this matchup solidified their spot in the sub-state, it was a win-and-advance or lose-and-go-home situation for both teams.

Cornersville High School senior Alexis Easterwood will get to compete on pitch for four more years after signing a letter of intent to play soccer at Martin Methodist College on Friday afternoon at the CHS gymnasium. Easterwood first caught the eye of the Martin Methodist coaching staff at a tryout camp last August and was offered a scholarship a week later. She will be joining a traditionally strong Red Hawk program that posted a 14-6-1 record last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament.