Lady Eagles, Lady Panthers burning up the diamond

By Michelle Dillon

michelle@thecherokeean.com

Rusk

Lady Eagles earn bi-district title

The Rusk Lady Eagles achieved a come from behind win to earn the Class 4A bi-district title over the Jasper Lady Bulldogs Friday, April 27.

Jasper took a 5-0 lead after the first inning. The Lady Eagles plated a run in the third inning ensuring the game would not be a shutout. In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs, Miranda Morin and Victoria Ivy crossed home, bringing the team within two points of the Lady Bulldogs. With Lauren Boudreaux on base, Tatum Goff hit one over the centerfield fence. Both girls scored, tying the game at five all.

The Lady Bulldogs responded by plating a score in the sixth inning to retake the lead. In the final inning, with two runners on base, Abbie Pepin slammed one into left field, allowing both runners to cross the plate. With the second runner’s score, Rusk had seized the victory.

“It’s exciting,” Goff stated of the first-round playoff win. “At the beginning, it was 5-0 and I was kind of worried, but we kept fighting and just got it.”

Tatum Goff is one of three senior members of the team.

“I’m unbelievably proud,” said head coach Tye Wilkerson of the team. “They fell behind early and we talked about last year, the same thing happened….and you don’t try to get it all back at one time. It’s one inning at a time, one run at a time. They fought and they fought and they fought until the last out, and I’m so proud of them. All of them.”

The Rusk Lady Eagles will play the Lorena Lady Leopards in the Area round playoff. The first game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Lorena. The second game will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Rusk. If a third game is necessary, it will begin 30 minutes following game two.

Eagles shut out Blackcats

The Rusk Eagles shut out the Mexia Blackcats, 3-0, in the final district game of the season. J.D. Thompson pitched the seven-inning game, striking out 14 batters, and posting two of the team’s three hits.

The Eagles finish the season with a 7-1 district record.

Rusk will enter the playoffs with a three-game series against the Center Roughriders. The first game will be played at Rusk, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2. The second game will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Center. If a third game is necessary, it will be hosted at Rusk with a 2 p.m. start time Saturday, May 4.

Bullard

The Bullard Lady Panthers captured a bi-district title after going to the third game of the series.

The team lost to the Pleasant Grove Lady Hawks in the first game, 7-5. Apsyn Grossman led with two hits and Payton Hancock led in RBIs, knocking in three runs.

In game two, the Lady Panthers defeated Pleasant Grove, 8-4. Ariel Matula pitched the full seven-inning game, striking out six batters.

In the third and final game of the bi-district series, Bullard defeated Pleasant Grove, 13-5. Beryl Grossman recorded three hits and five RBIs. Jolee Dixon posted three RBIs.

The Lady Panthers advance to Area round playoffs against Athens. The games will be hosted at Rains High School. Game one will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Game two starts at 8 p.m. Friday, May 3. If game three is necessary, it is scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday, May 4.

Panthers take Henderson in 11 innings

The Bullard Panthers completed their district schedule Tuesday, April 23, against the Henderson Lions. The Panthers won the eleven-inning match, 4-2.

With the first three innings remaining scoreless, Bullard plated a run in the fourth inning. Henderson managed a run in the sixth. With the teams tied at one run each and neither side scoring for the next four innings, the game went to an eleventh inning. Bullard plated three runs in the final frame, allowing only a single run for the Lions.

The Bullard Panthers will enter post-season play against Pittsburg, vying for a bi-district title.

The best of three series will begin in Bullard at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Game two is to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Pittsburg.

If necessary, a third game will follow game two.

Jacksonville

Maidens end bi-district play

The Maidens lost their Class 5A bi-district bid to the Texas High Tigers, 10-3, on Friday, April 27.

After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, Jacksonville allowed Texas High to plate six runs in the second inning. With the Maidens unable to score again, and the Tigers adding four more runs during the game, Jacksonville’s post-season play came to an end.

Saylor Williams pitched the game, striking out seven batters. Jordyn Whitaker posted three runs batted in and Emily Moreira had two hits.

The Maidens finished the regular season with a 13-1 record.

Indians end regular season

The Indians completed their regular season with two games against the Marshall Mavericks last week, with mixed results.

The first game resulted in a win, 9-7. By the end of the fourth inning, the Indians were down, 7-1. Fighting back, Jacksonville plated three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth, putting them ahead by a single run, 8-7. With an additional run in the final inning, the Indians ensured the win.

Jacarri Hamlet pitched five innings with three strikeouts. Canyon Thiel pitched two innings. Mason Hammons posted two hits and Josh Holcomb batted in three runs.

The second contest of the week resulted in an Indian loss, 1-5.

Alto

‘Jackets looking for bi-district win

The Alto Yellowjackets lost to the Cushing Bearkats, 13-2, Tuesday, April 23. The Yellowjackets were to complete their district schedule Monday, April 29, at Groveton.

The Yellowjackets completed the season with a 12-10 season record, 7-4 in district.

Alto will play a three-game series against the Grapeland Sandies (11-10, 5-6) for the Class 2A bi-district title. The first game is set for 5 p.m. Friday, May 3.

The second game will begin 30 minutes following game one. If a third game is necessary, it will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4. All games will be played at Westwood High School, 1820 Panther Drive, in Palestine.

Troup

Lady Tigers finish with 9-5 record

The Troup Lady Tigers lost their bi-district bid in two games to the Hughes Springs Mustangs.

The first game was a close 3-2 finish, but the Lady Tigers were outpaced in the second match, 9-1.

The Lady Tigers finished the season with a 9-5 district record.

Tigers win over Wildcats

The Troup Tigers completed their district schedule Tuesday, April 23, with a win over the Winona Wildcats, 21-2.

Jaden Lewis, Grayson Driggs, Austin Humi and Cade Jones took turns on the mound. Dylan Meyer and Lewis led with four runs batted in, each posting three hits. Humi batted in three. Driggs recorded two hits.

The Tigers finish the season with a 12-2 district record.

Troup will play the Elysian Fields Yellowjackets in a best of three series for a Class 3A bi-district title. The first two games will be played at East Texas Baptist. Game one begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, with game two following at 8 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will be played at 5 p.m. at Marshal High School Friday, May 3.