The dog-catchers
Lady Eagles defeat Carthage, Crockett Lady Bulldogs
BY LELAND ACKER

PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN Rusk left fielder Kristen Joyner takes third base during the Lady Eagles' 9-1 victory over the Carthage Lady Bulldogs. The win propells Rusk to a 19-4 record, 5-1 in District 20 3A.

The Rusk Lady Eagles are poised to take sole possession of second place in District 20 3A after soundly defeating the Carthage Lady Bulldogs 9-1 Thursday at Rusk Lady Eagle Field. The win marks a significant step in the Lady Eagles run toward the 2008 playoffs as Carthage was the second place seed out of District 20 3A in the playoffs last year.

"It was huge," Head Coach Ashley McElroy said. "We bunted a lot on them and hit it on the ground a lot. We forced them to make quite a few errors."

Coach McElroy said the Lady Eagles were successful at the plate by forcing the Carthage pitcher to throw the ball in the strike zone.

"We were real disciplined, we laid off of the high pitches forcing her to throw lower, which worked to our advantage," she said. "Everybody had a base hit."

Sierra Smith was a lead hitter with a triple. Calah Clark batted in the first two runs to give Rusk the advantage.

Callie Collins was the winning pitcher for Rusk.

"She pitched really well and our defense played 'lights out'." Coach McElroy said, adding that Maranda Westbrook and Sierra Smith turned a double play.

Earlier in the week, Rusk beat Crockett 15-0.

"We hit the ball well and that game got a lot of our players out of the slump," she said.

The wins advance Rusk to a 19-4 record, 5-1 in District 20 3A.

The Lady Eagles host Diboll at 6:30 p.m. Friday before hosting the Hudson Lady Hornets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Hudson game will be broadcast live on KWRW 97.7 FM.