Before the District 9-A winner's bracket final at Huntland Wednesday night, the Forrest coaching staff challenged their youthful squad to be the team, getting off bus ready to play 'Lady Rocket' softball and they did, beating Moore County 7-1 to earn a shot at the district tournament title, while securing a berth in the upcoming Region 5-A Tournament that commences on Monday.

"I am very pleased with their effort," said Forrest head coach Becky Cheatham. "We asked them to play focused and they were. We played error free and hit the ball, I am very happy."

Forrest awaits the winner of the loser's bracket final match-up between Moore County and Cascade as the Lady Champions eliminated host Huntland 5-0 in the nightcap.

The Lady Rockets, the only remaining unbeaten team in the tournament, have two chances to re-claim the title currently held by Moore County.

"Now, if we can wrap it up tomorrow, we will be hosting Monday," said Cheatham.

Sara Jordan shined in the circle and at the plate for Forrest, scattering eight hits for the complete game win, while going 3-4 with an RBI.

"Sara really shut them down tonight and we are going to have to have somebody do that tomorrow night as well," said Cheatham.

Moore County had base runners in every inning, but Jordan and the Forrest defense held firm in an errorless effort, allowing just a single run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Katie Bowles.

Hitting machine

Meanwhile, the Lady Rockets banged out 13 hits in the contest, including four doubles and a three-bagger by Savannah Brothers in the big five-run third inning for Forrest.

Lainey Mays set the table early, leading off the game with a double to center field before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kelsey Darnell.

Katie Warrick knocked Darnell home via a Raiderette error to make it a 1-0 before Moore County starter Kasey Harvey got the last two outs in the inning.

Warrick had a big night, coming up with four assists and one put-out in the field at third base, while also showing her prowess at the plate, turning in a 2-4 performance with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.

Game changer

In the top of the third inning, Forrest came up with the game-changing rally, scoring five runs on six consecutive base hits.

Darnell started the run with a two-out double to left before Warrick traded places with her, making it 2-0.

Jordan drove in Warrick with a single to left and Margaret Bryan came in as Jordan's courtesy runner.

Liz Daughrity followed with a single to put Lady Rocket runners on the corners, but they were not there for long as Brothers roped a triple to right field, making it a 5-0 ballgame.

Jessica Harmon knocked in Brothers for good measure, giving Forrest a six-run lead.

Forrest hunkered down on defense and held Moore County scoreless until Bowles' RBI in the sixth.

Final inning

Warrick nailed a one-out double in the top of the seventh, went to third on an infield hit by Jordan, and scored on a Brothers' base knock to left, reclaiming the lost run.

The Raiderettes threatened in their last at-bat as Kelsey Camp and Emily Powell reached on back-to-back bunts to begin the frame.

Jordan got the first out on a fly ball to Darnell in right, whiffed the next batter swinging, and put the cap on the contest with a pop-up to Mandy Conley at short.

Brothers (2-4, 3B, RS, 3RBIs) and Kiyoko Puca (2-3, SB) had two hits apiece in the contest, while Mays (1-4, 2B, RS), Darnell (1-3, sac bunt, RS, 2B), Daughrity (1-4, RS), and Harmon (1-3, RBI) all had one hit apiece for Forrest (17-7).