Lady Eagles play big schools in Hudson tourney
BY LELAND ACKER

The Rusk Lady Eagles opened the season in the Hudson Tournament by wrestling bears and being pounced by panthers, but they managed to slay dragons before being rained out Saturday.

Rusk opened tournament play against the Class 5A Beaumont West Brook Lady Bruins Thursday, falling by a score of 2-0. Lady Eagle pitcher Callie Collins struck out seven batters from the Lady Bruins' lineup. Sierra Smith went one-for-three from the plate with a single, as did Collins. Maranda Westbrook walked twice and Hillary Hugghins walked once. Rusk only had one error in the game.

The Lady Eagles had a better game at the plate against Huffman, but fell short 3-2. Kristen Joyner batted in the two runs for Rusk, which were scored by Alison Bowling and Rachel Mahaffey. Joyner went one-for-three from the plate, as did Bowling. Mahaffey got on base with a walk. Lefty Cami Curtis pitched against Huffman.

Friday, Rusk defeated the Class 4A Nacogdoches Lady Dragons by a score of 8-0, with Curtis pitching seven strike outs and allowing no runs. Curtis got on base once with a walk and wound up scoring on a passed ball.

Mahaffey got on base in the fourth inning and was batted in by Maci Choate. Calah Clark had a sacrifice bunt, an RBI, and scored on a Joyner sacrifice fly ball to the outfield. Westbrook went one-for-two with a walk, Bowling was one-for-three with 2 RBIs. Hugghins went one-forthree with an RBI and Sierra Smith went one-for-three from the plate.

Rusk concluded the day Friday with a 3-1 loss to Class 5A Lufkin. Collins pitched, striking out five. Curtis was the designated hitter, going three-for-three from the plate and batting in Rusk's only run. Bowling got on base with a fielder's choice and had a stolen base.

Hugghins had a walk. Smith got on base twice with a single to center field and an error by Lufkin's short stop. Mahaffey also had a single to centerfield.

Saturday games at Hudson were rained out.

The tournament results give Rusk a 3-3 record as the team prepares for the Kerens tournament this weekend. Rusk will open the tournament against Edgewood at noon Thursday.

Head Coach Ashley McElroy said the Lady Eagles played well in the tournament.

"We played some good competition this weekend," she said. "We got some good experience and played 'lightsout' defense, only allowing six runs in our first six games. We've scored 44 runs in our first six games."

Coach McElroy praised the pitching of Collins and Curtis.

"They make the perfect duo," she said. "They are both good leaders on the mound.

We have very aggressive and smart baserunners and are hoping to take a lot of extra bases this year."

Rusk opens District 20-3A action in Diboll March 4.