Baseball/softball teams head to league play

by by Michelle Dillon Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo
Wells’ Lady Pirate Kendall Tucker pitched the second game of a double-header with Garrison Tuesday, Feb. 26.
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Some county teams have put the shine on the baseball/softball diamonds, extending ongoing winning streaks. Others struggle on the field as teams head into league play.

Jacksonville

Indians lose

three at Canton

Jacksonville suffered three defeats at the Canton tournament this past weekend. The Indians faced Chapel Hill Thursday, March 7, losing the game by a single run, 5-4. Jacksonville dropped, 10-0, to host Canton before falling to Palestine, 4-3, Friday, March 8.

The Indians scored first, plating a run in the first inning. Both teams scored a single run in the third. Allowing Palestine two runs in the fifth put Jacksonville behind by one, 3-2. The Indians plated another run at the top of the sixth to tie the score, but a run by Palestine in the bottom of the inning secured the win, 4-3.

Grant Walters pithed all six innings of the Palestine game, throwing out 10 batters.

The Indians were slated to host John Tyler Tuesday, March 12, and will travel to John Tyler Thursday, March 14.

Maidens win first two district games

The Jacksonville Maidens won two games last week, both of them shutouts.

Playing Nacogdoches Tuesday, March 5, the Maidens plated 15 runs in the first inning and 6 in the second for a total 21 runs, as the Maidens did not go to bat in the third.

Asjia Canady pitched two innings, striking out three and Saylor Williams pitched one inning, fanning two.

Hosting Lufkin Friday, March 8, the Maidens completed another shutout, 9-0. With a run in the first inning, the Maidens plated five more in the second. The final three runs came in the fifth inning. Williams pitched the seven-inning shutout, striking out nine batters.

The Maidens now boast an 11-2-1 season record with a 2-0 district record. The team was to host Pine Tree Tuesday, March 12, and will host Marshall Thursday, March 14.

Rusk

Eagles on winning streak

The Rusk Eagles participated in the Canton tournament this past weekend, earning a 4-0 record. The tournament wins bring the Eagles’ streak to eight and gives the team a 9-5 season record.

The wins at Canton were over Sunnyvale, 5-3; Bullard, 3-1; Commerce, 12-0; and Chapel Hill, 2-1. In the Canton game, Andrew Gates pitched four innings, striking out six, while Aaron Brooks pitched a single inning. J.D. Thompson was the pitcher for the six-inning game against Bullard, striking out 11 batters. Mason Cirkel and Byron Johnson teamed up for the 12-0 shutout against Commerce, with Cirkel fanning four. Three pitchers teamed up in the Chapel Hill game. Zach Blackmon pitched five innings, fanning three. Jacob Woodlee and Landon Gates each pitched an inning with Woodlee striking out one.

The Eagles were to host Robinson Monday, March 11, and Bullard Tuesday, March 12. The Eagles will host Wills Point Thursday, March 14.

Lady Eagles win

two in a row

The Lady Eagles defeated Spring Hill in a 12-0 shutout Tuesday, March 5. Rusk plated three runs in the first inning of the game, which would have been enough for the win. Another Lady Eagle run crossed the plate in the second inning. With five more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth, the Lady Eagles took the 12-0 win. Tatum Goff pitched 3 and 1/3 innings, striking out 10 batters. Alanna Goldsberry pitched 1 and 2/3 innings, fanning three.

A closer game against Huntington took place Friday, March 8. With neither team scoring in the first two innings, Rusk plated three in the bottom of the third. This would have been enough for the win, but two more Rusk runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning. Neither team scored again until the seventh inning, when Huntington plated two, although it wasn’t enough to catch Rusk. Goff pitched the seven-inning win, totaling 16 strikeouts.

The Lady Eagles have no games scheduled during spring break but will travel to Mexia to begin league play Tuesday, March 19.

Alto

Yellowjackets win three in tourney

The Alto Yellowjackets competed in the Central High Tournament in Pollok this past weekend, earning a 3-0 record. With the three wins, Alto now has a 5-4 season record.

Lane Jackson pitched the 11-1 win over Trinity, striking out four. Three pitchers, Foster Hall, Todd Duplichain and Cody Watson, teamed up in the 10-3 win against Huntington.

In the 9-1 victory over Tarkington, Watson pitched the five-inning game, fanning three.

The Yellowjackets were to host Douglass Tuesday, March 12, to open district play. They were to host Westwood Tuesday, March 13 and will host New Waverly Friday, March 15.

Troup

Tigers defeat rivals

The Troup Tigers opened league by going on the road to play rival Arp Tigers, defeating them by two runs, 7-5.

Troup plated three runs in the top of the first inning while allowing Arp only a single run. Neither team scored in the second inning and both teams plated two runs in the third. Troup crossed the plate twice more in the fourth inning, and allowed a single run for Arp, creating a 7-4 lead. With only one more run crossing the plate for Arp in the seventh and final inning, Troup won the game.

Troup was slated to host Gladewater Tuesday, March 12, and will travel to Sabine Friday, March 15.

Lady Tigers continue winning streak

The Lady Tigers began district play at Arp, defeating the rival Tigers, 14-2. Each team started with two runs in the first inning, but it would be the only runs Troup allowed Arp.

Lindsay Davis pitched all six innings, fanning 15 batters and allowing only a single hit.

“There were some outstanding hits during the duration of the game, some of which came from Grace Stone, Ashley Neel, Sam Peoples and Tiffany Lacy; according to Head Coach Sam Weeks.

In another league game, hosting Winona, the Lady Tigers earned a second district win, 8-2. Taylor Vance pitched the seven innings, striking out nine.

The team sports a 9-5 season record and are 2-0 in district.

The Lady Tigers were to host Gladewater Tuesday, March 12, and will travel to Sabine Friday, March 15.

Bullard

Panthers go 1-1-1 at tourney

The Bullard Panthers participated in the Canton tournament, leaving with a 1-1-1 record.

The loss was to the Rusk Eagles, 3-1. Mason Kelly pitched five innings, striking out five, and Tanner Fowler pitched a single inning, fanning two.

The win for the Panthers was against Commerce, 9-1. Pitching all five innings, C.J. Gardner struck out nine batters and earned the win.

The tie, 0-0, was the result of an eight-inning game against Sunnyvale. Hagen Smith pitched 6 and 1/3 innings, fanning 15 batters, and Tanner Fouler pitched 1 and 2/3 innings, striking out four.

The Panthers were to visit Rusk Tuesday, March 12, will host Athens Wednesday, March 13, and will host Whitehouse Friday, March 15.

Lady Panthers

defeat Canton

The Bullard Lady Panthers traveled to Canton where they defeated the Eaglettes, 9-1, Friday, March 8.

Though Canton scored one run in the first inning, Bullard plated four in the second. It would have been enough for the win as the Eaglettes never crossed home again. With two more runs in the third inning and one run each in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, the Lady Panthers secured a 9-1 victory over Canton. Ariel Matula pitched the seven-inning game, striking out eight.

The Lady Panthers will host Carthage Friday, March 15. To begin district play, Bullard will host Gilmer Tuesday, March 19.

Wells

Lady Pirates win four in

a row at tourney

The Wells Lady Pirates began district play at Garrison Tuesday, Feb. 26, with a double-header against the Lady Bulldogs. Both games went to Garrison in 15-0 and 7-3 finishes.

The Lady Pirates then participated in the Nacogdoches Blues Brothers tournament, earning a 4-2 record.

The first two games were losses to Shelbyville, 18-1, and Apple Springs, 16-12. In the contest with Apple Springs, Harley Courtney and Allie Sanders were top hitters and each scored three runs.

Wells won the next four games in a row.

The Lady Pirates beat Broaddus, 24-11.Kendall Tucker was the winning pitcher. Courtney scored four runs, Allie Sanders, three, and Kendall Tucker, three. Kaley Burch had four runs batted in and Sarah Jacobs, three.

A closer 8-7 win came against Chester. Tucker was again the winning pitcher. Courtney and Sanders scored two runs apiece and Burch batted in three.

Another single run win came in a 7-6 victory over Zavalla. Kendall Tucker pitched six shutout innings before being relieved by Courtney, who got the win. Sanders and Ashbea Jones each scored three runs with Alexa Scroggins batting in three.

In the final game of the tournament, Wells defeated Martinsville, 11-7. Tucker was the winning pitcher and had three hits during the game. Burch and Courtney also had three hits apiece. Scroggins had an inside the park homer and Madison Adams knocked one over the center field fence.