CHAPEL HILL — All season long, the Forrest Rockets have had their way with the other District 7-AA teams.
Not much changed in Thursday night’s tournament opener against Grundy County.
The Rockets got a strong outing from Luke Allen and scored in every inning in the 11-1 run-ruled final score.
Allen had to work around a first-inning jam, but was able to retire the side and prevent a run from scoring.
In the bottom of the inning, Tyler Baxter, Riley Durbin and Preston Gentry all drew walks to lead off the inning and then Kason Fuller stepped to the plate.
Fuller crushed a line drive double to deep left field, scoring Durbin and Gentry.
He eventually scored on an error.
After plating two in the second and one in the third, the Rockets got the offense going again in the fourth with a RBI single by Gentry.
Carter Walk then drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in a second run of the inning before Gentry scored on an error at first base.
Ryan Meglis ground into a fielder’s choice in and plated a fourth run of the inning, giving Forrest a 10-1 lead.
Gentry came through again in the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk-off RBI double to reach the 10-run rule limit.
Gentry and Fuller each drove home two runs in the win and both also doubled to lead the Rockets at the plate.
Allen went four innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits while striking out two.
Fuller worked the final inning in relief and didn’t give up a hit, while recording a strikeout.
The Rockets were scheduled to face Cascade on Friday night, with the winner advancing to the tournament championship on Saturday evening, weather-pending.

Grundy Co. 001 00 — 1 2 5
Forrest 321 41 — 11 6 2

Forrest: Tyler Baxter 2-for-3, Preston Gentry 2-for-3, Kason Fuller 1-for-2, Luke Allen 1-for-3.

WP: Allen
LP: Marcom