Rusk falls to Robinson
Troublesome 2nd inning spells heartbreaker for Rusk
BY LELAND ACKER

PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN Rusk senior short stop Sierra Smith tries to catch Robinson short stop Maria Vicinais stealing second. Vicinais was called safe on the play, setting her up to score the first run of the game. Robinson beat Rusk 4-1 in Friday's Area championship game.

One inning made the difference as the Rusk Lady Eagles ended their season at the hands of the Robinson Rockettes in the area round of the Region 3 Class 3A playoffs. Robinson won the game 4-1.

The game featured the pitching battle between Rusk's Callie Collins and Robinson's Hannah White. Collins had seven strike outs while White had six. The game breaking moments happened in the second inning, however, as Robinson was able to string together a series of hits resulting in a 3-0 Rockett lead.

Robinson's Maria Vicinais got on base with a walk, stole second, then scored on a double hit by Alex Humphries. Soon the bases were loaded and Robinson successfully scored two more base runners.

Rusk struggled at the plate throughout the game, with three batters striking out in the second inning, and three popping up in the third. Robinson scored in the fourth inning before Rusk managed their lone run of the game in the fifth inning.

Rusk senior l first baseman tags the base to put out Robinson's Casidy Wegworth. Hugghins went 0-2 in her final game as a Lady Eagle, but got on base with a fielder's choice in the fifth inning as Rusk fell to Robinson 4-1. PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN

Alison Bowling hit a single in the fifth inning, followed by a single hit by Cami Curtis. Hillary Hugghins got on base with a fielder's choice and almost scored on a double by Mallory Westbrook, who was caught trying to stretch the double to a triple.

The pitching dual resumed in the sixth inning, stalling both sets of bats until the end of the game.

Neither team had a good night at the plate, as Kristen Joyner, Bowling, Curtis and Westbrook were the only Lady Eagles to get hits. Bowling was two-for-three while Westbrook was one-for-two. Curtis was one-for-one and Joyner was one-for-three.

Robinson only managed three hits in the entire game, as opposed to Rusk's five hits.

Rusk concludes the season with a 27-7 record, finishing second in District 20 3A with an 11-3 record and celebrating a 6-4 Bi-district win over Westwood. The Lady Eagles were under the direction of first-year Head Coach Ashley McElroy and graduate four seniors: Joyner, Sierra Smith, Rachel Mahaffey and Hugghins.