By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

EAST BEND — Jarrett Mullins stroked a two-out, run-scoring single, and Forbush’s baseball team slid by Surry Central 5-4 in eight innings Friday night.

The result proved big in both teams’ quest for conference seeding.

The Falcons improved to 7-3 in the Mountain Valley 2A standings, a game behind Wilkes Central and 1.5 behind league leading Starmount. The Golden Eagles dropped to 7-4 heading into its regular season finale against Wilkes Central on Tuesday.

Chad Faircloth got the eighth-inning rally started for Forbush with a one-out single. Brett Baity replaced Faircloth on the bases and moved to second base on an infield single from Ryan Doss. That set the stage for Mullins’ clutch hit.

Adam Saunders earned the pitching victory. He pitched all eight innings, striking out seven, walking two and surrendering 10 hits.

“Adam got stronger as the game progressed and we had some clutch hits at the end of the game,” Forbush coach Jerome Cannon said. “It was a good game to honor our seniors on senior night and the contributions they have made to Forbush baseball.”

Forbush jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Two errors by Surry Central allowed Mickey Andrews and Saunders to come home. Justin Williams was plated by a Clint Hunter sacrifice fly.

Surry Central got one run back in the top of the third inning. Tanner Hudson came home on a Forbush error. The Eagles then tied the game 3-3 in the third inning. Casey Felts and Austin McLamb both scored in the frame, on a fielder’s choice by Brett Boyles and a single from Tanner Hudson.

Forbush notched its fourth run in the fifth inning on an RBI hit from Williams to score Andrews. Central tied the game in the sixth on a well-executed double steal play by Joseph Davis and Shane Johnson. Davis came home while Forbush tried to pick off Davis between first and second.

Heath Reece pitched six innings for the Eagles. McLamb, who came on in the seventh, took the loss.

Leading hitters for Central included Tanner Hudson (3-for-4, RBI), Shane Johnson 2-for-4 and Ty Hudson (2-for-4). Forbush was led by Saunders (2-for-3) and Faircloth (2-for-4).

The Falcons have two conference games left, visiting North Surry on Tuesday and Ashe County on Thursday.


STARMOUNT-NORTH SURRY POSTPONED: The Rams honored their senior players, then the lightning began. While it never really stormed at the ball park, the lightning never really went away either.

Umpires called the game just after 9 p.m., postponing it until this Friday at 6 p.m. at Starmount. The Rams are 8-1 in conference and also play at North Wilkes (Tuesday) and at Wilkes Central (Thursday) this week to wrap up conference action.