Rusk falls to Huntington
Lady Eagles still search for answer to Devillette defense
BY LELAND ACKER

PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN Rusk short stop Alison Bowling fields a grounder during last week's 2-0 loss to the state-ranked Huntington Devillettes. Bowling successfully fielded three grounders before suffering a leg injury while trying to deny Huntington's Presley Modissette a stolen base.

If close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, then the Rusk Lady Eagles would have been victorious had last Tuesday's match-up against the Huntington Devillettes involved the curved pieces of metal. Instead, Rusk came up short 2-0 against the ninthranked Devillettes at Lady Eagle Field. The loss drops Rusk to an 18-4 record, 2-1 in district. Huntington advances to 13-3-1, 4-0 in district.

As was the case during both district match-ups and regional quarterfinal series last year, the game was a defensive battle between two teams with solid fielding skills and fantastic pitching. Callie Collins hurled 10 strike outs for the Lady Eagles while Carlie Thomas threw 16 strike outs for Huntington. Both pitchers are sophomores, so this feud will continue for the next two seasons.

Huntington had six hits as a team, while the Lady Eagles only had two on the evening.

The Devillettes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, and extended it to a 2-0 lead in the third.

Sophomore short stop Alison Bowling was having a good defensive game for Rusk, fielding grounders and putting out Presley Modissette at second base and Lovett and Molly Ellington at first. Bowling was injured in the top of the fifth inning trying to prevent Modissette from stealing second. Modissette attempted the steal when a strike was thrown. Catcher Mallory Westbrook caught the pitch, then threw it to second base. Bowling caught the ball, but was hurt when she and Modissette collided at second. Bowling suffered a laceration to her lower leg while Modissette suffered a fractured ankle.

Rusk had the opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hillary Hugghins and Maranda Westbrook singled, but a sac bunt by Cami Curtis and two strike outs ended the inning before either could score.

Rusk went on to beat Hudson Wednesday evening 7-5.

"We battled the whole game after a tough loss Tuesday night to Huntington," Head Coach Ashley McElroy said. "We handled our adversity well, after being tired, suffering a tough loss and losing Alison Bowling for a few weeks due to injury."

Miranda Westbrook went four-for-five with four singles and two scores while Mallory Westbrook went two-for-five with one run scored. Sierra Smith hit a home run. Kristen Joyner went three-forfour with a double, and RBI and a run scored. Calah Clark was two-for-four with two singles and two runs scored.

Rusk will host Carthage at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lady Eagle Field. Carthage placed second in District 20 3A last season, beating Rusk twice. The Lady Dawgs are on a roll this season, having beat Huntington earlier in non-district action. After Carthage, Rusk will travel to Central Tuesday.