By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

EAST BEND -- Forbush baseball coach Jerome Cannon admits it was a little strange preparing his team for a state playoff game against Forest Hills last Friday.

"It was interesting being in the opposing dugout after coaching at Forest Hills the first 19 years of my career," Cannon said. "Two of their coaches played on the 3A state championship team we had there in 1997."

Cannon's current school got the best of his old one once play began, with Forbush prevailing 6-2. The Falcons (15-8) took command early, scoring four runs in the opening frame. Two more scores in the fourth put things out of reach.

Forest Hills scored single runs in both the third and sixth innings but couldn't get a whole lot going against Forbush hurler Adam Saunders, who picked up the win. Saunders went the distance, striking out 10 and allowing six hits.

Forbush is set to visit West Davidson in round two of the playoffs on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The winner will play either Mount Pleasant or East Lincoln in a round three game on Friday.

Cannon has been at Forbush since the 2005-06 school year. He was an assistant on the 2006 Falcons team that advanced to the 2A state championship series. He became head coach this season.

Forbush had to overcome Forest Hills and the elements on Friday. Lightning in the area postponed the action for about 90 minutes.

"The weather caused a delay that I hoped would not interrupt our concentration as a team or Adam's pitching," Cannon said. "Adam started slowly, which may have had something to do with the lightning delay, but settled in and pitched well from the third inning on."

Forbush could have added a bunch more runs to its ledger, Cannon said.

"We had the bases loaded in the second and fifth with no outs and did not score in either inning," he said.

Saunders got the scoring started in the first with a sacrifice fly that brought Jarrett Mullins home. Justin Williams knocked in Mickey Andrews, then both Williams and Clint Hunter came home after a Forest Hills error.

Andrews led off the fourth inning with a walk and eventually scored on a Cole Hensley sac fly. Forbush eventually loaded the bases, and Samuel Brawley drew a walk, bringing Williams home.

Andrews and Williams led the Falcons offense with 2-for-3 performances at the plate. Both scored twice.


Forbush 6, Forest Hills 2
Friday • at East Bend

Forest Hills 001 001 0 -- 2 6 3
Forbush 400 200 x -- 6 6 1

WP: Adam Saunders (6-3). LP: Tyler Griffin.

Leading Hitters: FHS -- Mickey Andrews 2-for-3, 2 runs; Justin Williams 2-for-3, 2 runs.