Rusk survives bi-district playoff battle

#24 Lady Eagles face #7 Waco Robinson Friday

BY LELAND ACKER

The Rusk Lady Eagles huddle before taking the field in a recent game. Rusk (27-6) beat Westwood 6-4 in Thursdays bi-district playoff game in Elkhart, setting up an area playoff showdown against Waco Robinson May 2. PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN

Three errors at inopportune times kept the Lady Panthers close as Rusk battled out a 6-4 win over the Lady Panthers in Thursday's bi-district playoff game held in Elkhart. The Lady Eagles led the game 3-1 before Westwood scored on two errors in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.

"We didn't play Rusk softball," said Head Coach Ashley McElroy. "It was not the prettiest game but we found a way to win."

The Lady Eagle offense was fueled by two home runs, a three-run homer by Mallory Westbrook in the second inning and a two run homer by Calah Clark in the fifth inning kept Rusk ahead in the game. Clark's fifth-inning homer propelled Rusk to a 6-3 lead.

"We lived and breathed by them," Coach McElroy said. "Thank God they happened, because they won the game for us."

Westwood threatened again in the seventh inning, with Brittany Barlow scoring on a third throwing error, but pitcher Callie Collins ended the game by hurling two consecutive strike outs. Collins had 10 strike outs on the evening.

The win advances Rusk to a 27-6 record, setting the stage for an area playoff showdown against Waco Robinson.

"Robinson is a salty team," Coach McElroy said. "They are well-disciplined and well-coached. They are a very good team."

Waco Robinson is ranked seventh in the state. The game has tentatively been scheduled for Friday, May 2, with the location and start time pending.

Hitters for Rusk include Westbrook (1-1, one walk, one home run, two runs scored), Maranda Westbrook (1-3, one run scored), Clark (1-3, one home run, two RBIs) Kristen Joyner (1-3, one double) and Hillary Hugghins (1-3).

The game was played at Elkhart, Coach McElroy's Alma Mater.

"It was a lot of fun (to play before a hometown crowd)," she said. "It had its ups and downs, a lot of pressure, but it was exciting with everyone watching."

Coach McElroy was the catcher and closing pitcher for Elkhart before playing college softball for McLennan Community College and UT-Tyler.