Local teams place in state tournaments

Baseball teams from Jacksonville and Rusk competed in state tournaments last Monday-Friday, July 15-19, seeking to bring home a title.

6U Boys T-Ball

The 6U teams met in Mineola to determine the state champion, with 18 teams vying for a title.

The Jacksonville Knights, who took first place in their district tournament, lost their first game in the state tournament to the Axtel Rangers on Monday.

Tuesday night, the Knights defeated the Mineola Rangers, advancing to a third round of play.

The Knights defeated the Holland Hornets before falling to Belton and ending their tournament run.

The Jacksonville Indians, who earned second in their district tournament, lost their opening game in the state tournament to the Bartlett Bulldogs, 27-19.

On Tuesday, the Indians battled the Temple Grasshoppers, losing by a single run, 34-33.

8U Boys Coach Pitch

The 8U coach pitch teams gathered in Temple to compete for the state championship.

The Jacksonville Chiefs had a bye in the first round on Monday, but defeated the Belton Hurricanes in their first state game. They advanced to play on Wednesday and were defeated by the Belton Bayou Bengals. The same afternoon, the Chiefs faced the Temple Aggies who knocked them out of the tournament, ending their championship run.

The Rusk Astros fell in the first round of the state tournament to the Bosqueville Aces on Monday. The Astros defeated the Temple Rangers on Tuesday to advance to the third round of play later the same day. The Belton Hurricanes defeated the Astros, blowing away their hopes for a state title.

The Bosqueville Aces and Belton Bayou Bengals battled in the championship game, with the Aces earning the title.

10U Boys Tight Base

Groesbeck was host to the thirteen teams hoping for a 10U boys tight base state title.

The Rusk Rangers drew a bye in the first round of tournament play. During their first competition Monday, the Rangers lost to the Coleman Bluecats. The next day on the diamond, the Rangers defeated both Hubbard Weatherby and the Grand Saline Cubs.

The Rusk Rangers faced off against the Cameron Yankees on Wednesday, securing yet another win.

The Rangers were defeated by the Chandler Horned Frogs later the same evening, ending their bid for a championship. The team did finish the tournament fourth in state.

The Axtell Leathers and Coleman Bluecats battled for the title with the Axtell Leathers winning the championship game.

12U Boys Open Base

The Rusk Eagles were among a dozen teams who vied for a state title in the 12U open base division tournament held in Whitehouse.

The Eagles lost their opening game at the tournament. On Tuesday, the team secured wins against the Belton Braves and the Whitehouse Red Sox. On Wednesday, the Eagles defeated both the Frankston Astros and Mart Dietrerich.

On Thursday, in their sixth game of the tournament, the Eagles lost to the Chandler Hustle ending their fight for a championship title, but placing third in state.

The Brownwood Giants were the state champions and Chandler Hustle placed second.

14U Boys

Nine teams travelled to Axtell to determine who was worthy of the 14U state title.

The Eagles opened the state tournament against the Brownwood Padres, securing their first win in their bid for a title. On Tuesday, the Rusk Eagles defeated Hillsboro Lewis, 9-1. Remaining in the winner’s bracket, the Eagles took on Crawford Chambers and defeated them, 11-6, to advance to the championship round.

The Eagles took on the Chandler Warriors in their bid for the title, but lost the game. The Eagles’ defeat was their first in the tournament, necessitating a second game against the Warriors which also resulted in a loss.

The Chandler Warriors secured the championship title and the Rusk Eagles finished second in state.