Going the distance
Lady Eagles win Longview tourney
BY LELAND ACKER

PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN Rusk pitcher Callie Collins focuses on her next strike out victim during the Longview Tournament last weekend. Rusk went 6-0 in the tournament, winning first place and chalking up big victories over teams like Atlanta and Evangel.

The Rusk Lady Eagles continue to roll as they won first place in the Longview Tournament over the weekend. Rusk knocked off Atlanta, Gilmer, Chapel Hill, Evangel, Pleasant Grove and Gladewater to claim victory. The win streak advances the Lady Eagles to a 13-3 record going into District 20-3A action.

Rusk outscored their opponents 77-8 in the six-game tournament with the "Lightsout" defense achieving three shut-outs.

Rusk defeated Atlanta 3-2, with Callie Collins hurling 13 strike outs.

Mallory Westbrook returned to the Rusk lineup after having an appendectomy earlier this season, hitting two for four from the plate with a double and a run scored. Maranda Westbrook added another run as she went two for four with two singles. Kristen Joyner batted two for three from the plate while Alison Bowling, Sierra Smith, Rachel Mahaffey and Calah Clark went one for three in the Atlanta game.

"It was a close game and fun to play," Head Coach Ashley McElroy said.

The Lady Eagles went on to annihilate the Gilmer Lady Buckeyes 26-5, with Clark leading the charge at the plate. Clark went five for five with eight RBIs, three home runs and one grand slam.

"She was on fire that night and had definitely eaten her Wheaties," Coach McElroy said. "She had an outstanding night."

Cami Curtis pitched nine strike outs and hit one for three from the plate with two walks and three runs scored. Mallory Westbrook smacked two for three from the plate with two RBIs and a walk. Mahaffey went two for five with two RBIs and scored four times. Bowling had three RBIs, a single, double and score. Hillary Hugghins had two base hits and three RBIs. Joyner added one triple, one RBI and scored once.

Rusk defeated Chapel Hill 11-0 in five innings, with Curtis pitching six strike outs. Mallory Westbrook batted two for three, scoring twice hitting a double. Bowling hit two for three with two RBIs, Smith had a double, a single and two RBIs. Clark had one double and two RBIs. Joyner scored twice and Higghins was one for three with a triple, a score and an RBI.

The Lady Eagles won a 1-0 showdown against Shreveport Evangel, a private high school known for athletic prowess in Louisiana.

"This was by far the moist intense and exciting game this year," Coach McElroy said. They had a great pitcher who was clocked at 65-66 mph. It was some heat, but just what we needed to see to get better."

Mahaffey made what could have been the game-saving play in the sixth inning as Evangel had the bases loaded with no outs.

Evangel attempted a squeeze play, but Mahaffey covered the play and made the throw to the plate to prevent the score and force the game into extra innings.

Maranda Westbrook and Clark both had diving catches to deny Evangel runs in the sixth inning.

Collins pitched 21 strike outs and Curtis scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game 1-0. Curtis was batted in by Bowling.

Rusk beats Pleasant Grove

Rusk beat Pleasant Grove 10-0 in five innings, with Collins throwing eight strike outs.

Maranda Westbrook went three for three from the plate with three singles and two runs scored. Smith batted two for three with a double and run scored.

Clark, Mallory Westbrook and Bowling all hit one for three. Kristen Joyner had two RBIs off of sacrifice flies and Hugghins was walked three times and scored once.

Rusk beats Gladewater

for the title

The Lady Eagles beat Gladewater 16-1 in four innings to win the tournament. Curtis was the winning pitcher with six strikeouts.

Hugghins and Mahaffey were both three for three from the plate. Bowling, Maranda Westbrook and Smith went two for three from the plate. Mallory Westbrook hit two for four with two RBIs.

Clark and Joyner rounded out the hitting, going one for three from the plate.

Upcoming games

The Lady Eagles travel to Hudson Friday to face the Lady Hornets in district play before hosting the Devillettes in a District 20-3A showdown that will be a rematch of last season's regional quarterfinal series.

The Huntington game will be Tuesday, March 11, with the JV playing at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity taking the field at 6:30 p.m.

The game will be played in Rusk and broadcasted on KWRW 97.7 FM.

Lady Eagles JV squad gains

win, experience against Alto

The Lady Eagle JV chalked up a 7-0 win over the Alto Lady Jackets Feb. 26. Amanda Gilchrest lead the effort, going three for three from the plate with two runs and two stolen bases.

Curtis was the winning pitcher with 12 strike outs. She batted two for three from the plate with a walk and three runs scored.

Other hitters were: Callie Jackson (1-2), Mallory Westbrook (1-2, one run) and Maci Choate (1-3, one RBI).

Heaven Liles was the losing pitcher for Alto with 12 strikeouts.

Alto was held to just three hits from the plate.

Hitters for Alto were Logan Smith, Holley Huddleston and Abby Scott. Alto travels to Chireno Friday in district play.