Forrest’s Anna Blanton will be roaming the outfield in college as the Lady Rockets’ standout centerfielder recently signed a Letter of Intent to attend The University of Tennessee at Martin on scholarship for the 2020-2021 season.

“It was just like a home away from home, it’s a small town, I just fit in there and I feel like it’s a really good pick for me,” Blanton said about going to UT-Martin.

After 18 years, 581 wins, and two Ohio Valley Conference titles at the helm of the Skyhawks, coach Donley Canary retried after the 2019 season, handing the reins to Brian Dunn, who has 26 years of coaching experience.

“A new coach is there and I know them through some other people,” Forrest head coach Shelby Stinnett said. “It’s going to be a good fit for her, I think the school is a good fit for her, so she made it and that’s all that matters and there is no doubt in my mind that she is going to succeed.”

Since 2005, Dunn coached the University School of Jackson where he posted a 344-102 record and captured TSSAA state titles in 2010 and 2012.

“They have a new assistant coach and head coach there, so it’s like a new program starting up and it’s going to be exciting,” Blanton said.

Blanton, a five-year varsity player for the Lady Rockets was an integral member of last season’s state championship squad.

“We take pride in our outfield, it’s the last line of defense, so to us it’s really important,” Stinnett said. “As a pitching staff and even as a coach, when your pitchers throw it up there and you know it’s going to be caught, it just gives you a lot of confidence.”

Blanton played in all 42 games for Forrest last season, finishing with a .344 batting average and a .389 on base percentage for the Lady Rockets, who captured their third state title after putting up a 37-5 record.

Forrest went 11-0 in District 12-AA play, winning the district title and the Region 6-AA crown and crushed Westmoreland 10-0 in the state sectional round before sweeping four state championship games by a combined score of 19-4.

“Everyone who was on the 2015 team kept telling me it is the best feeling ever and I said I guess I will find out one day,” Blanton said. “When I did find out it is a special feeling that you really can’t describe.”

Batting in the all-important number two spot, Blanton never grounded into a double play, moving runners in to scoring position for the potent Forrest offense.

“Her purpose last year at number two was when we get runners on it was her job to move her to second and score runs,” Stinnett said. “This year we are going to try to get some more power behind her.”

“Not necessarily hitting away, but a hard slap that makes her even more of a weapon.”

Blanton scored 46 runs, knocked in 17, and stole 30 bases while never being caught for the squad that broke the all-time stolen base mark at Forrest with 173 thefts.

Younger sister Jenna Blanton led the team with 36 steals and Zoe Long was second with 33 as the Lady Rockets finished with an incredible .945 stolen base percentage with only 10 runners thrown out the entire season.

Defense wins championships and Blanton roamed centerfield like she owned it, gliding around the outfield where she made all the routine plays, plus the spectacular on many occasions, including one catch versus Jackson Southside in the Blue Cross Spring Fling second round.

With Forrest leading 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning and the bases loaded and one out, Kayla Beavers stroked a sinking liner to center field that looked like the game-tying base hit, but Blanton came out of nowhere with a diving catch and came up throwing to second baseman Laura Mealer, who caught the ball and threw to Kennedy Gillespie at first base for the game-saving double play.

In the bottom of the inning, Forrest took the lead and never looked back as they went on to win the next two games over Lexington to win the title.

“It’s special playing centerfield at Forrest,” Blanton said. “You’re the leader of the outfield and it’s a big responsibility.”

Blanton and the Lady Rockets have a chance to do the one thing they have not accomplished yet, win back-to-back state titles.

“Our goal when we go to practice every day is to go back-to-back and do something nobody has ever done before,” Blanton said.

Forrest finished as runner-ups after the 2008 title season and after the 2015 title season, the Lady Rockets made an early exit from the state tournament, losing their first two games.

Forrest has a 37-29 all-time record in 17 state tournament appearances and along with three state titles, the Lady Rockets have finished second four times.

Blanton currently sports a perfect 4.0 G.P.A. at Forrest and wants to study nursing at UT-Martin.