Thomas Conrad delivers a strike early in Forbush’s win at Wilkes Central.
MORAVIAN FALLS — The Forbush baseball squad started off the final week of the regular season on the right foot with a 12-0 win over Wilkes Central last Tuesday at Major Larry J. Bauguess Jr. Memorial Field.
And the winning formula was quite simple on Tuesday — scores three runs in each of the last four innings and shutout pitching.
That work on the mound came from Thomas Conrad and Logan Beane.
Conrad, a sophomore, allowed three hits and struck out eight in four innings of work. The senior Beane struck out the side in order in the fifth to end the game early via the mercy rule.
After allowing a single to Jacob Demeny in the bottom of the first, Conrad retired the next nine Eagles.
Drew Call and Skylar Lugo ended that streak with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fourth. But Conrad hunkered down and struck out Gage Dice and Eli Walker to keep the Falcons’ advantage at 9-0.
Forbush (15-9, 8-4) padded the lead thanks to its bench as Will Summers (single), Logan Beane (double) and Braylon Beane (hit by pitch) loaded the bases.
Spencer Hodges extended the lead to 11-0 with a two–run double.
Nick Weisner, who along with Dawson Graham finished with a team-high three hits, tacked on the final run with an RBI single. The junior also had an RBI sacrifice fly in the third inning and another RBI single in the fifth.
As a team, Forbush finished with 16 hits and received two hits apiece from Cannon Doub and Chase Smitheman.
In addition to Wesiner and Hodges, Gavin Maines also drove in a pair of runs.
Jacob Demeny took the loss for Wilkes Central as he allowed six runs in three innings of work.
On Friday, The Falcons didn’t use multiple small-scoring innings to earn a 14-2 win on Friday night in East Bend.
Instead, Forbush used one big inning to end the game after four-and a-half innings via the mercy rule.
That big inning came in the bottom of the third, already with a 2-0 advantage.
The Falcons plated 12 runs in the inning as Conrad (double) and Will Summers (single) each drove in two runs. Dawson Graham added an RBI double to push the lead to 13-0.
Graham, who finished 3-for-3 at the plate, scored to make it 14-0 when Brady Poindexter reached on an error.
The senior was also one of three Falcons to see time on the mound on Friday. Summers and Boyles also saw action on the bump.
Summers picked up the win as the senior righty struck out six and allowed two hits in three innings.
In addition to Graham, Conrad (three RBIs), Beane, Cannon Doub and Weisner each finished with two hits in the win.
Forbush stepped out of Foothills Conference play on Wednesday evening and posted a 2-0 win against West Forsyth.
The Falcons earned the win against the 4A Titans behind a two-hit shutout from Hodges. The senior walked two and struck out seven in the winning effort.
Forbush backed Hodges’ effort with a run in the bottom of the first and then extended the lead in the fourth with an RBI triple from Graham.
Chase Smitherman went 2-for-3 to lead the Falcons at the plate. Beane, Doub, Graham and Maine each finished with one hit apiece.
Forbush will now turn its attention to the conference tournament, which began with a 10-4 win against North Wilkes on Monday night.
The No. 2 seed Falcons will face North Surry on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Wilkes Central. The winner will face either No. 1 East Surry or No. 4 West Wilkes in the finals, which are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.