Year in sports: Tarlandus Mitchell signs contract with Chicago Cubs
BY QUINTEN BOYD

As the summer sun rose over Cherokee County, the action on the sports landscape heated up. It started with state championships in softball. The county also saw two of its own sign with major league ball clubs, received a grappling world championship and watched as football season began in August and stretched through December.

The sports world of Cherokee County continued turning with consistency and success for teams in Jacksonville, Alto, Rusk and Wells.

June

With school out, area athletes of all ages continued to make news. Perhaps none was bigger than Tarlandus Mitchell's drafting and signing by the Chicago Cubs organization. He has been with the organization since June 11.

Rusk second baseman Adam Hicks was selected to play in the Texas High School Baseball All-Star Game held at Dell Stadium in Round Rock. He went 1-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored.

Meanwhile, just down the road, 13 girls represented Cherokee County on the 22-A All-District Team. Heaven Liles and Abbey Scott of Alto shared District MVP honors and Lexi Session won Defensive Player of the Year. Lauren Watson of Wells won Newcomer of the Year. Representing Alto on the All-District softball teams were LaQuendal Tyler, Holley Huddleston, Katina Sturns, Lacey Huddleston and Teoshue Badget. Representing Wells were Meagan Bobbit, Brittany Morton, Tiffany Chambers, Alisha Dyson and Cassidy Glover. Alto's baseball team was represented by Mitchell (MVP), Jared Moore (Defensive Player), Rhett Gresham (Newcomer) Clint Dover, Garrett Curtis, Clayton Scott, Colton Crisp, Lance Low, Michael Parker and coach John Paul Dixon.

Rusk's Steven Garza won the 2008 World Submission Grappling Championship in the 145 pound and under division less than a minute after dislocating his shoulder.

July

Alto's Tarlandus Mitchell and Rusk's Adam Hicks were named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches' Association All-State teams in their respective classifications. Named to the 20-3A All-District team were Hicks, John David Beard, Chance Davis, Colton Campbell, Trent Vaught and Makon Lindsey.

Alto head softball coach Sharon Reid was selected to coach in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Softball All-Star Game in Arlington. Coach Reid's East All-Stars won, 11-1.

Several area softball and baseball teams advanced to state competition. The Rusk Astros, Lone Star Express, Rusk Riptide, Texas Pride and Rusk Xtreme all advanced to state competition with the Pride and the Express bringing state championships to Cherokee County.

August

The start of two-a-day practices signaled the beginning of football season for all three county teams. Meanwhile, inside the gym, volleyball season started for all three teams, including Rusk and their new head coach, Doug Jackson.

A portion of the Alto fieldhouse roof collapsed due to heavy rainstorms in the area.

Football season opened with all three teams dropping their season openers: Rusk to Palestine, Jacksonville to Marshall and Alto to San Augustine. For the Yellowjackets, it was the team's first loss in two years.

September

Hurricane Ike came through and caused havoc, canceling Alto's game against Arp, postponing Rusk's game against Fairfield and changing start times and schedules in all of the fall sports. When the hurricane blew away, the teams returned to action.

For the month, Jacksonville went 1-3, defeating Palestine 49-35. Alto finished the month of September 2-1 with wins over Garrison and Grapeland and a loss to Frankston. Rusk finished September 1-2, losing to Van and Gladewater and defeating Bullard in a doubleovertime shootout.

October

The Rusk Eagles avenged what some called "the worst loss in school history" when they defeated Huntington at the Red Devils' Homecoming, 47-0. Huntington defeated the Eagles last year at Rusk's Homecoming, 32-6.

The Eagles went on to finish 3-1 in October, defeating Fairfield, Huntington and Center and falling to eventual district and state champion Carthage. Alto finished October undefeated at 4-0, defeating Carlisle, Overton, Cross Roads and Cushing. Jacksonville finished the month 1-2, losing a close game to Whitehouse and a 10-year win streak against Henderson and defeating Nacogdoches.

The Rusk Lady Eagle volleyball team clinched a playoff spot, defeating Huntington in three games. The Lady Eagles, who finished the last volleyball season winless in district, advanced to bi-district to take on Bullard.

Former Rusk baseball player Chad Linder had his contract purchased by the Detroit Tigers and was assigned to their Class A affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps.

November

November started with the Rusk Lady Eagles taking on Bullard in the bi-district round of the state 3A volleyball playoffs. The Lady Eagles gave a good account of themselves, pushing Bullard to the limit despite falling, 3-0.

Rusk finished November 0-2, losing to Jasper and Diboll and finishing just outside of the playoff hunt. The future of Rusk football gave the city reason to be optimistic, with great performances from the 7th, 8th and JV squads.

Jacksonville finished November 1-1, losing to Kilgore but defeating Lindale to gain the final playoff spot in District 14-4A. The Indians would draw eventual state finalist Longview in the first round, losing to the state-ranked Lobos 61-14.

Alto would lose their final district game to eventual state finalist Cayuga, 35-24, but would advance to the 1-A Division I state playoffs. Alto would defeat Joaquin 25-13 and Hawkins 41-14 before bowing out in the quarterfinals to Mart, 27-20. The close loss ended Alto's two-year championship streak.

Alto's Jose Leon and Xochitl Castro advanced to the Regional Cross Country Meet in Humble, with Leon advancing to the State meet in Round Rock. The sophomore would finish in 37th with a time of 18:14.13.

The Rusk Eagles started basketball on a strong note, picking up wins over Groveton and Tatum before losing to state-ranked T.K. Gorman. The Lady Eagles started the season with four consecutive losses.

December

Rusk was well represented on the District 18-3A All-District teams in football and volleyball. Eagles on the all-district football team were Quinn Anthony, Trent Vaught, Marcell Johnson, Michael Katon, Matt Friederich, John Trotter, Dalton Pate, Nick Bradshaw, John David Beard, Taj Cleaver, Colton Campbell and Michael Daniels.

Lady Eagle volleyball players honored by the district were Jasmine Harris (Most Valuable Offensive Player), Maci Choate (Most Valuable Defensive Player), Charnell Franklin, Christa Adams, Kiara Skinner, Kristen Hicks, Cami Curtis, Alison Bowling, Tori Choate, Callie Jackson, Mallory Westbrook and Maranda Westbrook.

The ever-popular Six Pack of Picks came to an end with classified ad manager/ radio personality Tara Crosby holding off Missouri S&T quarterback and Rusk alumni Brad Guidry and Sports Editor and broadcaster Quinten Boyd by one game to pick up her fourth consecutive championship.

The Rusk Eagles continued their strong start in basketball, winning the Shelbyville Tournament, finishing sixth in the Great East Texas Shootout, fifth in the Sabine/West Rusk Last Man Standing Tournament and eclipsing their win total from last year. The Lady Eagles picked up their first wins of the year in the Shelbyville Tournament.