Rusk wins bi-district battle
BY LELAND ACKER

PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN Rusk Lady Eagles centerfielder Calah Clark (middle) is mobbed by teammates at home plate after blasting a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday night. Clark's home run gave the Eagles a 6-3 lead. Mallory Westbrook also connected for a home run in the bottom of the second to push the Lady Eagles to an early 3-0 lead.

Three errors at inopportune times kept the Lady Panthers close as Rusk battled out a 6-4 win over the Lady Panthers in Thursday's bi-district playoff game held in Elkhart.

The Lady Eagles led the game 3-1 before Westwood scored on two errors in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.

"We didn't play Rusk softball," said Head Coach Ashley McElroy. "It was not the prettiest game but we found a way to win."

The Lady Eagle offense was fueled by two home runs, a three-run homer by Mallory Westbrook in the second inning and a two run homer by Calah Clark in the fifth inning kept Rusk ahead in the game.

Clark's fifth-inning homer propelled Rusk to a 6-3 lead.

"We lived and breathed by them," Coach McElroy said. "Thank God they happened, because they won the game for us."

Westwood threatened again in the seventh inning, with Brittany Barlow scoring on a third throwing error, but pitcher Callie Collins ended the game by hurling two consecutive strike outs.

Collins had 10 strike outs on the evening.

The win advances Rusk to a 27-6 record, setting the stage for an area playoff showdown against Waco Robinson.

"Robinson is a salty team," Coach McElroy said. "They are well-disciplined and wellcoached. They are a very good team."

Waco Robinson is ranked seventh in the state.

The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, in Corsicana.

Hitters for Rusk include Westbrook (1-1, one walk, one home run, two runs scored), Maranda Westbrook (1-3, one run scored), Clark (1-3, one home run, two RBIs) Kristen Joyner (1-3, one double) and Hillary Hugghins (1-3).

The game was played at Elkhart, Coach McElroy's Alma Mater.

"It was a lot of fun (to play before a hometown crowd)," she said. "It had its ups and downs, a lot of pressure, but it was exciting with everyone watching."

Coach McElroy was the catcher and closing pitcher for Elkhart before playing college softball for McLennan Community College and UT Tyler.

Playoff History

The 2008 playoffs mark the 10th time that Rusk has reached the postseason and it is the third consecutive trip for the Lady Eagles.

Rusk is now 9-9 all-time in the playoffs.

Since softball was recognized as a playoff sport in 1994, Rusk has made it to the postseason 10 of the 15 seasons.

The 2007 team reached the regional quarterfinal before falling to Huntington in a best of three series.

Robinson, the next opponent for the Lady Eagles, has reached the playoffs each year since the first year of softball in the UIL.

Last year Robinson reached the Regional Semi-Finals before falling to Giddings.

Who's next?

Rusk will now face Robinson, who had a bye in the bi-district round.

Robinson will come into the game as the seventh ranked team in Class 3A.

The game is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday in Corsicana.