In preparation for the post-season mayhem, Forrest head coach Becky Cheatham added one last test to the regular season schedule and it was tough one at Class-AAA Shelbyville, who needed a seventh-inning game-winning hit by Jami Johnson, beating the resilient Lady Rockets 4-3.

"The girls came back tonight, but I am kicking myself right now because there were two plays where I should have held runners," said Cheatham. "I'll take the kick in the butt for those two, I know better, I am going to have to be more patient. I was just a little over aggressive."

Johnson, who went 2-3 at the dish, also picked up the complete-game win in the circle, giving up three earned runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out one Lady Rocket batter.

Control with help

Johnson was in control early, allowing one base runner over the first three innings and she was the recipient of a pair of long balls, beginning with a two-run blast by Tiana Sanders in the first inning.

In the bottom of the second, Bailie Deason belted a leadoff homer deep over the center-field fence off Forrest starter Sara Jordan, putting the hometown Eaglettes up three-zip.

Johnson got the first two outs in the top of the fourth before Katie Warrick drilled a shoulder-high guided missile out of the ballpark, cutting Shelbyville's lead to 3-1.

Warrick, who took over for Jordan in the circle in the bottom of the third, quieted the Eaglettes' bats in the fourth and fifth innings.

Forrest score

In the top of the sixth, Lainey Mays drew a two-out walk before Kelsey Darnell stroked a base hit that was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing Mays to come all the way around to score, making it a one-run game.

Darnell was waved to third as Mays scored, but was thrown out on a nice relay recovery by Shelbyville.

Warrick gave up a one-out walk to Tiffany Graves in the home half of the inning, but got out of the small jam on a pop-up to Jordan at third base, followed by an inning-ending grounder to Mays at shortstop.

Roaring back

The Lady Rockets came all the way back in the top of the seventh as Warrick led off with a double off the right-field fence.

Margaret Bryan came in as courtesy runner for Warrick and proceeded to cross the dish with the tying run, via an RBI single by Jordan.

Liz Daughrity followed with a base hit and Savannah Brothers moved both runners up nicely with a sacrifice bunt.

Harmon bounced a ball back to Johnson in the circle, catching Jordan, who was tagged out at home by Deason.

Johnson escaped any further damage on a ground out to short to end the inning.

Final inning

Sanders lad off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit, but was forced at second on a grounder by Morgan Ward.

Allie Odeneal blasted a shot to deep center, but Kiyoko Puca made a nice catch at the fence to keep the game alive.

Chelbie Gannon came up with a base hit to left and Deason drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Johnson, who drilled a shot to the gap in right/center that was just out of the reach of Puca, who was in a full-throttle attempt on the game-ending hit that was just out of her reach.

"Early on it didn't look good," said Cheatham. "But, we didn't give up and we didn't give in and we are going to be OK. I told the girls after the game to hold their heads up, there is nothing to be ashamed of, we just have to take it out on Middle Tennessee Christian tomorrow."

Six-hitter

Forrest, who opened up District 9-A Tournament play versus MTCS on Thursday in Chapel Hill, had six hits in the game with Darnell and Warrick getting a pair, while Jordan and Daughrity came up with the other two.

Shelbyville (18-6, 7-3) finished second in District 8-AAA, one game back of Lincoln County (33-15, 8-2).

The Eaglettes managed nine hits in the contest with Sanders, Gannon, Deason, and Johnson all getting two base knocks apiece in the contest, while Alexis Larion had one single.

The Lady Rockets (14-7, 10-2) also came home in second place in their district, finishing one game short of Moore County (14-8, 11-1).