Rusk teams axe the Jacks in district opener
Eagles edge Diboll in shootout, Lady Eagles dominate Diboll, Hudson
BY LELAND ACKER

Stephen Halbert focuses on his next strike-out victim as the Eagles beat the Diboll Lumberjacks 12-11 on March 6. Halbert is 3-0 on the mound this season. PHOTOS: LYNN LITTLEJOHN

The Rusk baseball and softball teams had a good week with the boys beating Diboll 12-11 in their district opener while the girls 10-runned Diboll and dominated Hudson.

The Eagle baseball team's victory over Diboll was not easy, as the Eagles took a 4-2 lead, in the 2nd inning before Diboll came back in the 3rd and took a 5-4 lead. It was a back and forth battle from that point on with the Eagles being able to hold on to a 12-11 win.

Pax Richey had a good night from the plate, batting 3-4 and knocking a two-run home run out of the park.

Pitcher Stephen Halbert picked up the win. His record is now 3-0 on the year. The win lifts the Eagles to an 8-5 season record, 1-0 in District 20-AAA.

Eagles win two at Lindale

The Rusk Eagles won two games in the Lindale tournament, beating Spring Hill 12-11 and Elkhart 7-6. Richey, who is emerging as a leading hitter for the Eagles, batted 3-4 in the 1st game with four RBIs and went 3-3 in the 2nd game.

Sierra Smith hits a home run during the game against Diboll. Smith, who has been sidelined due to knee surgery, celebrated her return to the diamond by batting 2-3, making one home run and three RBIs.

Lady Eagles 10-run Diboll

The Lady Eagles took an 11-1 lead in the 6th inning to win the right to go home early on March 6, beating the Diboll Lady Jacks by virtue of the 10-run rule.

Freshman pitcher Callie Collins played a big role in the win by allowing only three hits, no earned runs, pitching seven strike outs and only walking two batters.

Collins is 9-5-2 on the season, 2-0 in district.

Rusk also had a great night from the plate. Every starter got at least one hit, with Jerri Hill and Allison Bowling both getting two hits and scoring two runs each.

Kristen Joyner had three RBIs and a double.

One exciting moment of the game came with the return of Sierra Smith. Smith was the Lady Eagle pitcher last season, who led the team to the playoffs despite missing several games due to a shoulder injury.

This season, she has missed most of the games due to knee surgery.

Her return to the line-up was productive, with Smith going 2-3 from the plate, hitting one home run and hitting three RBIs.

Rusk had 13 hits on the evening.

Lady Eagles sting Hudson

Once Rusk got the ball rolling, there was little Hudson could do to stop their momentum as the Lady Eagles beat the Lady Hornets 8-1 in District 20-AAA action Friday.

Rusk is now 11-5-2, 2-0 in District 20-AAA.

"We had a good overall effort," said Head Coach Rick Frauenberger. "Things got started when Cami Curtis walked in the 3rd inning. We had good base-running."

Curtis, once on base, was able to steal when the Hornets made bad throws. This put her in a position to make the first score of the game. She was followed by Hill, Bowling, Joyner and Calah Clark who scored runs in the 3rd quarter.

Bowling went 2-4 from the plate with one stolen base. Smith also went 2-4. Maci Choate served as Smith's baserunner, scoring a run in the 5th inning.

Clark led the scoring with two runs, while Hillary Higghins scored a run in the 5th inning.

Smith, who has not been cleared to pitch yet, played 2nd base.

Collins picked up her second district win with the Hudson game. Curtis has also been effective from the mound, going 2-0 this season. Having multiple pitchers helps a team.

"It gives you opportunity to see more good pitching during practice, and helps you during tournament play," Coach Frauenberger said.