Playing in the first game in what will be a year on the road, albeit at the sight of two ‘future’ home games, William Monroe’s offense was in top gear as they hammered East Rockingham 20-2 in the season opener for both schools.
“Our players have been itching to play somebody with our scrimmages getting cancelled,” said Dragons coach Mike Maynard. “We know that’s a better team than we saw today — they’re young and had a tough day. But I thought we hit the ball well.”
Monroe took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but saw the Eagles fight right back to make it a tie game. Monroe added a run in both the second and third to reclaim its 2-run lead, but exploded in the fourth inning for 16 runs, with Jordan Gentry, Ryan Morris and Zach Duprey each coming up with big hits to lead the way.
“We’ve got a lot of good hitters on this team,” Gentry said. “We came out swinging today, hitting the ball really hard.”
The Dragons also got some help from a fistful over errors made in the infield and outfield.
Well out in front, Monroe held East Rockingham scoreless for its next two at-bats to wrap up a win by virtue of the slaughter rule after the fifth inning.
Gentry finished 3 for 5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Logan Forloines was 3 for 3 and an RBI, and scored in all five of his plate appearances. Morris was 2 for with three RBI. Lamar Nelson picked up his first win of the year on the mound.
Monroe (1-0) travels to play Madison County at Madison at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
