Published: May 06, 2008 11:08 am            

Lady Eagles fall in softball playoffs

By Don Wallace

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

CORSICANA — The Waco Robinson Rockets did what good teams do.

They took advantage of Rusk walks and mistakes to down the Lady Eagles 4-1 in the Class 3A area softball playoffs Friday at the Corsicana High School field.

Waco made very few mistakes and limited the chances for Rusk to get a rally going against the pitching of Rocket right-hander Hannah White.

It was not a manner of the No. 7-ranked Waco team overpowering Rusk. The No. 24-ranked Lady Eagles made a good showing and were in the game until the final out.

“Waco just had some hits fall in and we didn’t,” said Rusk head softball coach Ashley McElroy. “That’s softball; that’s just the breaks.”

Wright pitched a complete game for the Waco team, earning the win by allowing four hits, walking none and striking out five.

Rusk pitcher Callie Collins allowed three hits, hit one batter, walked four and struck out four.

The game was tight, and with the two ranked teams so closely matched it came down to mistakes.

Collins started the game with a walk, but came back to fan two of the next three batters in the first inning. Rusk was unable get a runner on base in the first inning.

The top of the second inning turned out to be the frame which would decide the game. The Rockets sent nine batters to the plate. One reached after getting struck by a pitch. Alex Humphries hammered a two-out double to centerfield to give Waco a 1-0 lead.

Collins then allowed a single to Stacey Boyett. The next three batters all drew walks as Rusk fell behind 3-0. Collins regrouped and got Molly Cooper to fly out to centerfield for the third out.

Now working with a lead, White retired three of the next four batters on strikeouts to close the second inning.

The Rockets picked up another run in the top of the third. With two outs, Miranda Villarreal doubled to centerfield. Villarreal scored when Ashton Feight reached on a throwing error, the ball rolling into the dugout. Collins fanned the next hitter, but Rusk was trailing 4-0.

The best shot for a Lady Eagle rally came in the bottom of the fifth.

Alison Bowling and Collins both singled to left field. Rachel Mahaffey struck out. Hillary Hugghins grounded into a fielder’s choice with Bowling forced out at third base. With runners at first and second and two outs, Mallory Westbrook belted a double down the left field line. It appeared two runs would score, but only one run was credited to Rusk as Westbrook was tagged out at third. The Lady Eagles were on the scoreboard, trailing 4-1.

Neither team could mount a threat in the sixth inning.

In the Lady Eagles’ final at bat in the seventh, Bowling hit a sinking line drive to centerfield, but Waco’s Villarreal made a diving catch. Rusk was retired in order and the Rockets claimed the 4-1 victory.

“I am so proud of these girls. They have so much heart,” McElroy said, wiping away tears. “This was such a good year; it just hurts to lose.

“The game could have really gone either way,” McElroy said. “We just made some mistakes they took advantage of and we did not get the breaks. We had a great run. This was a whole lot of fun. I could not ask for a better group of girls for me to coach my first year.”

“We finished 27-7. That is a great season. I will take that any day. We are losing four very important seniors Rachel Mahaffey, Kristen Joyner, Sierra Smith and Hillary Hugghins — they will be missed,” she added.

        

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