Rusk/Alto advance in playoffs
Rusk/Alto softball teams head to Regional quarterfinals, Alto baseball plays for Area title BY LELAND ACKER

The Rusk and Alto softball teams advance to the Regional quarterfinals while the Yellowjacket baseball team advances to the Area championship this weekend.

The Rusk softball team moves ahead to the Regional quarterfinals after defeating Rockdale 3-2 in the Area championship game on Friday. The Rockdale Lady Tigers came into the game with a 19- 10 record and sporting a new district championship trophy. They were ranked 20th in the state. Rusk was coming off of a big win over the Fairfield Lady Eagles.

Rockdale had three hits in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Lady Tigers capitalized on those hits by scoring two runs. Rusk responded by scoring three runs in the top of the 3rd inning.

Kristen Joyner started the inning with a single. Alison Bowling then singled, putting runners on 1st and 2nd base.

Cami Curtis was walked, loading the bases. With two outs and bases loaded, Hillary Hugghins hit a single which batted in Joyner and Bowling. Hugghins advanced to 2nd when the outfielder tried to make the throw home. Callie Collins then hit an infield single which batted in Hugghins for the lead. Collins singled again for Lady Eagles' fifth hit of the game.

Collins also pitched, hurling eight strikeouts on the evening.

The Rusk Lady Eagles now head to the Regional quarterfinal round to face their district rival, Huntington.

The Huntington Devillettes are on a roll this season with freshman pitcher Carlie Thomas. The last time Rusk and Huntington played, Thomas struck out 15 Lady Eagle batters.

"She has not given up an earned run in district, or the playoffs," said Rusk Head Coach Rick Frauenberger.

Huntington went undefeated to win the district 20- AAA crown. On the season, the Devillettes have only lost one game. The first time Rusk and Huntington played this season, both teams had three hits, but Rusk gave up two unearned runs to lose 2-0. Rusk lost the second bout 7-0.

Coach Frauenberger said the Regional quarterfinal series with the Devillettes may be different.

"I believe that either team can win on any given day, and we are very comparable (to Huntington)," he said. "The team that does the elementary things in a professional manner will have a good chance of advancing in the playoffs.

"If we will be patient and make them throw the ball over the plate, we will have the opportunity to score runs. We also have to cut down on the strikeouts and make them make plays."

The three game series with Huntington begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Rusk. Game two will be at 6 p.m. Friday in Huntington, with game three to follow if necessary. Game one will be broadcast on KWRW 97.7 FM.

Alto defeats La Poynor

The Alto Yellowjacket baseball team advances to the Area championship series after beating La Poynor 2-1 in the Bi-District series. In game one, Alto lost to the Flyers 5-2, with Clint Dover, the losing pitcher.

Alto won game two 5-0 with Colton Crisp as the winning pitcher. The Jackets won game three 9-4 with Tarlandus Mitchell being the winning pitcher.

"They all played well," said Alto Head Coach John Paul Dixon. "They rose to the occasion."

Alto will play a three game Area championship series with the Lovelady Lions.

"They have a pretty solid team," Coach Dixon said, adding that Alto and Lovelady played to a tie in a tournament earlier this year.

Game one of the series will be played at 7 p.m. Friday in Rusk and will be aired on KWRW 97.7 FM. Games two and three will be played on Saturday in Rusk, with game two beginning at 5 p.m. Game three will follow, if necessary.

Lady Jackets upset

Grapeland

The Alto Lady Jackets advance to the Regional quarterfinals after a big 5-3 win over the 3rd ranked Grapeland Sandiettes.

Grapeland got off to a quick 1-0 lead after lead-off hitter Julie Goolsby was hit by a pitch from Alto's Heaven Liles. Goolsby was able to work her way around the bases and score.

The game was deadlocked through the 2nd and 3rd innings. In the 4th inning, Alto's offense broke open with three runs.

Lacey Huddleston hit a single and stole a base. Amber Morrison got on base with an error and also stole a base. Sherenza Green then hit a double, scoring Huddleston and Morrison. Green then scored when Erika Blakemore hit a single.

Alto, ahead 3-1, gave up a run in the top of the 5th, but the Lady Jackets responded when Margo Kahla scored in the bottom of the 5th on an error. Green scored again in the bottom of the 6th to extend the lead to 5-2. Grapeland added a run in the top of the 7th, but was unable to catch up with Alto.

Alto's Liles threw 11 strikeouts. Green was the lead hitter, going 2-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Blakemore also went 2-3. Other hitters for Alto were Molly Pearman (1-3), Huddleston (1-3) and Liles (1-4).

Alto will play Dallardsville Big Sandy in the Regional quarterfinal series. Game one will be played at 7 p.m. tonight at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin. The game will be broadcast on KWRW 97.7 FM.

Game two will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin, with game three to follow if necessary.