The defending and three-time state champion Forrest Lady Rockets had their final tune-up before the start of the postseason Wednesday night at the Field of Dreams in Chapel Hill versus an upstart Eagleville squad coached by former Lady Rocket great Brianda (Elmore) Sanders.

Sanders was an integral member of the 2006 Forrest team that won the school’s first state title and the Lady Eagles came in to Wednesday night’s contest with a 14-4 overall record and top-seeded in the District 8-A Tournament.

“Anytime you play anybody close it’s a pride game, and last night was one of those games,” Forrest coach Shelby Lightfoot said. “Eagleville has a sound team this year. We knew it would be a good game, but it also let us know where we need to improve going into postseason play.”

The Lady Rockets came in to the contest riding an 11-game win streak and played an almost flawless game with great pitching, a stonewall defense, a good helping of small ball offensive pressure, and plenty of patience that paid off in a 4-1 win.

“This was the game to see how Team 34 competes on a big stage,” Lightfoot said. “The coaching staff was extremely pleased. Our girls never strayed from the plan.”

“They made adjustments in the box, and learning even in times of failure. I see their confidence growing and luckily at the right time.”

It was a pitching battle in the circle from the start as Forrest’s Ashley Milligan and Eagleville’s Addi Linton went blow for blow the entire contest.

“We’ve heard great things about Linton,” Lightfoot said. “There is no doubt that as she matures and grows she will be unstoppable.”

Milligan turned in another gem, pitching six innings of no-hit ball before giving up a pair of hits in the top of the seventh inning.

Both pitchers did not walk a batter in the game and Milligan struck out 16 Eagleville batters, including eight out the first nine batters she faced in the contest, allowing just one base runner on a hit by pitch through the first six innings.

“Milligan is starting to feel good and gaining her confidence on the mound, she was again a crucial role giving our offense time to get going,” Lightfoot said. “I’m excited to see her compete in postseason play.”

Linton was also strong and did not allow more than one Forrest runner on base through the first four innings and was still in control with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Briley Burnham reached on an infield error that opened the door a tiny crack.

That’s all great teams need and Forrest took advantage as Maggie Daughrity followed with a base hit to right field.

The Lady Eagles made a another mistake as they played back at third base and Jenna Blanton made them pay, laying down a perfect bunt to load the sacks for Karley Daughrity.

“Against good pitching our goal is to make the defense make a play, I believe our girls did just that and it paid off,” Lightfoot said. “In big games with tough pitching you get runs however you can. The bottom of our lineup had great at bats. They put pressure on the defense and it paid off.”

Daughrity battled some tough Linton pitches and with two strikes, drilled a laser shot to second base, but it was too hot to handle and two runs scored with a third run added on an errant throw to home plate.

“Karley has been big for us since moving her in the two hole, she has been clutch hitting behind runners, bunting, and scoring runs with runners on base,” Lightfoot said. “Hats off to Karley because she is doing all this with torn ligaments in her wrist. Her grit and determination to play, even through her pain, has not gone unnoticed.”

Three runs is a ton of insurance for Milligan, who kept her no-hitter alive with a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning.

“Milligan is pitching well, but her comfortability comes from knowing it’s not all on her,” Lightfoot said. “Our offense is producing runs against good pitching and that takes some pressure off.”

The Lady Rockets combined some ball with a long ball in the home half of the inning as Macyn Kirby stroked a one-out single and was sacrificed to second base by Katelyn Helmick.

Milligan stepped in the batter’s box and drilled a long ball off the right field fence and Kirby scored standing up to make it a 4-1 contest.

“That run was all about execution,” Lightfoot said. “If we get a runner on in a 0-0 ballgame, can we score?”

“Our seniors then did their job. Helmick bunted the runner into scoring position and Ashley hit one off the fence for a stand up double. Great execution.”

Linton broke up Milligan’s no-no with a base hit up the middle to lead off the top of the seventh inning and then stole second base.

After a pop-up to Helmick at first base for the first out, Bella Bain busted up the shutout with an RBI single to left field before Milligan slammed the door shut for good as she struck out the next two Eagleville batters to end the game.

“The first and last inning are tone setters for a ball game,” Lightfoot said. “Our focus was not as sharp knowing we had a four-run lead going into the seventh.”

“We have to get better in the last inning and finish the game. With that said, Milligan took responsibility and agreed as well. We will be working on this moving forward.”

Forrest (21-3-1) has the home field advantage for the District 12-AA Tournament that starts tonight.

The Covid-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season and the Lady Rockets open of defense of their 2019 title as they host the winner of tonight’s Giles County/Community game at Chapel Hill on Friday night at 5:30 p.m.

“I could probably write a whole page on how I am feeling, but the word that moves to mind is ready,” Lightfoot said. “The girls have put in the work. I’m ready to see what Team 34 will do. The sky is the limit.”

Eagleville (14-5) also had a first-round bye and awaits the winner of tonight’s Moore County/Fayetteville City contest. The District 8-A Tournament is at Cascade.

Eagleville 000 000 1-1 2 3

Forrest 000 031 X-4 7 0

Eagleville: Addi Linton 1-for-3, Bella Bain 1-for-3.

RS: Linton.

RBI: Bain.

HBP: Elizabeth Cumbee.

SB: Linton, Bain.

Team LOB: 2

Fielding

E: Abigail Stokes 2, Linton.

LP: Addi Linton (6IP, 7H, 4R, 1ER, 4K, 0BB).

Forrest: Jenna Blanton 2-for-3, Karley Daughrity 1-for-3, Laura Mealer 1-for-3, Macyn Kirby 1-for-3, Ashley Milligan 1-for-3, Maggie Daughrity 1-for-2.

RS: Blanton, Kirby, Briley Burnham, Maggie Daughrity.

2B: Milligan.

RBI: Milligan.

SAC: Katelyn Helmick.

ROE: Burnham, Karley Daughrity.

CS: Blanton.

Team LOB: 4

WP: Ashley Milligan (7IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 16K, 0BB).