On Friday night, McCann's Rams proved that triumph wasn't a fluke, earning the season sweep against the Falcons.
Caleb Pardue hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and pitcher Tyler Jackson threw a complete game three-hitter to give Starmount a 9-2 win over its county rival.
The result ended Forbush's four-game conference win streak and left both teams with 5-3 Mountain Valley 2A records entering this week. The race for the MVAC championship is still a five-horse race, with Wilkes Central on top for now, and Surry Central, Ashe County, Starmount and Forbush all on the Eagles' heels.
"We're back up there in the conference," McCann said of his squad, which bounced back after a loss to Surry Central. "If we can play well the rest of the way out, we could be a three or a two (seed). Wilkes Central and Ashe have to battle it out another game, and they've both got to go through Forbush and Surry Central."
The Rams set the tone Friday with an explosive first inning.
Leadoff hitter Daniel Swaim got aboard and eventually worked his way to third base. Derrick Wishon also got on and was standing at first when Pardue came to the plate.
Pardue has steadily moved up the batting order this season to the clean-up position. His home-run shot cleared the 350 sign in centerfield. It was his first round-tripper of 2008.
"We moved him up to the four spot because he was hitting it real hard," McCann said. "We knew it was just a matter of time. He hit it real well the last time at Forbush. He had two doubles, and one bounced off the fence."
A walk by Tyler Howard set up another run for the Rams in the opening frame. Ben Shore brought Howard's courtesy runner, Shane Bryant, home when he smoked a double up the first base line.
Forbush got two runs back in the top of the third inning, but Jackson and company shut the door on scoring the rest of the way. The Rams added two runs to their tally in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth.
"What is disappointing is we know we can play with them," Forbush coach Jack Moss said. "We've got pitchers for a three-game series but we just don't have that stud pitcher like a Jackson or a Josh White (Wilkes Central standout)."
Adam Saunders took the pitching loss for Forbush, his first in conference play this season. Starmount outhit the Falcons 10-3. Both teams committed two errors. Jon Harrell had a triple for Forbush.
"I thought we just hit the ball really well," McCann said. "Tyler Jackson threw well and we played good defense behind him. It's easier for him to pitch the way he does when you've got some runs on the board."
McCann praised the way his players communicated with one another on defense. On one play, Forbush had a runner at first with one out. The Falcon batter bunted the ball right back to Jackson. Shortstop Chris Cowles called for the throw, and Jackson turned and was able to gun down the runner heading to second.
"We got the lead runner," McCann said. "That was very important because the kid we got out is probably one of the fastest players on their team."
Moss said Jackson is tough on opposing batters because he's got three good pitches. Plus, he's left-handed, so the ball runs away from right-handed hitters.
"You've got to hit his fastball before he throws a change or curve in there," Moss said.
Starmount had Tuesday off from game action and played a non-conference contest Wednesday at West Davidson. The Rams travel to Ashe County for a key MVAC game on Friday night. The Huskies won the first meeting 2-1 in Boonville on March 25.
Forbush is caught in a busy cycle of games, due to rescheduled rainouts from earlier in the season. The Falcons played at West Stokes on Saturday, losing 8-2, then beat Calvary Baptist 12-2 at Ernie Shore Field on Monday. Friday brings a non-conference contest against North Rowan, then a trip to Surry Central next Tuesday.
"We played four games in five days," Moss said. "With all the rain, we're backed up and have to play games on Saturdays or Mondays."
Keeping fresh pitching arms has been a concern. Chad Faircloth and Ryan Morris threw against West Stokes on Saturday. The Falcons led 1-0 early and trailed 3-2 before the Wildcats pulled away.
Jarrett Mullins got the pitching win Monday against Calvary Baptist. He threw all five innings, recording 10 strikeouts. The Falcons scored eight runs in the first inning then invoked the 10-run mercy rule after getting ahead 12-2 by the fifth.
Harrell finished 3-for-3 and scored three times. Adam Saunders was 2-for-2, while Faircloth finished 2-for-3.
Starmount 9, Forbush 2
Friday * at Boonville
Forbush 020 000 0 -- 3 3 2
Starmount 400 023 x -- 9 10 2
WP: Tyler Jackson; LP: Adam Saunders
HR: Caleb Pardue (Starmount); 3B: Jon Harrell (Forbush)
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