Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 145, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 1993 Page: 3 of 30
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CHEROKEEAN/HERALD of Rusk, Texas—Thursday, April 15,1993—Page Three
S
Rusk Eagles develop positive attitudes
By...STEVE LEE,
Sports Writer
Sometimes a crucial district loss
can have a positive effect on a team,
such is the case of the Rusk Eagles.
Ever si nee the Eagles lost a heart-
breaking 10-7 decision to the
Crockett bulldogs, things just
haven't been the same, in fact they've
been getting better for Coach Rich-
ard Tucker's squad.
Rusk, since the Crockett loss has
responded with three straight 20-
AAA victories over Hudson, 5-2;
Huntington, 8-4; and Center, 5-1 to
pull into a first place first-round tie
with the Bulldogs, prior to a Friday
night confrontation with the Cen-
tral Bulldogs.
The Eagles had to rally past Diboll
4-3 in their loop opener, and then
fell behind to Crockett 6-1, even
though they rallied in a losing ef-
fort.
"I told the kids after the game
against Crockett that we didn't ex-
pect to go through this district un-
defeated. This district is so much
more balanced then our old district
was last year," Tucker said.
Since the shocking loss to
Crockett, Rusk has outscored its
opposition 18-7. More importantly,
the Eagles have controlled the tempo
and put pressure on their opposi-
tion.
Rusk mounted a 3-0 first inning
lead over Hudson,- led Huntington
4-0 after one inning and scored four
times against Center in the first.
The Eagles in recent games have
been putting early pressure on their
opposition-something they weren't
doing in the first two games of dis-
trict play.
Tucker has obviously been pleased
by the Eagles' sudden resurgence,
but he knows his team can't afford
to rest on their laurels with nine
more tough games left on the Dis-
trict 20-AAA schedule.
It's always harder to win the sec-
ond time around, just ask the Rusk
Eagles who are in the thick of the
20-AAA playoff picture.
Rusk finished last season with a
20-5 record on the way to a post-
season playoff berth. This season
the Eagles have struggled at times,
but still stand 10-3 and 4-1 in first
round 20-AAA play, heading into a
Friday night confrontation with the
Central Bulldogs.
Coach Richard Tucker's squad has
been inconsistent offensively sport-
ing a .246 average in district play.
The trio of Casey Gates, Billy
Whitehead and newcomer Dax Bow-
man have stood out offensively this
season however.
Gates seems to have found his
niche as a leadoff batter, leading the
team with an impressive .466 aver-
age in district play prior to the Cen-
ter game won by the Eagles 5-1.
Gates didn't hurt his average
against Center as he went 2-4. The
senior finished non-district play
with a .400 average. Confidence is
everything in baseball and Gates
has plenty of that.
Proving his consistency as a hit-
ter, the Rusk shortstop has
struckout only once this season and
has driven in nine runs.
Gates has also performed well on
the mound, posting a perfect 4-0
record. He defeated Hudson 5-2 re-
cently, throwing a strong three-hit-
ter to go with a season-high 11
strikeouts.
Whitehead also has stood out of-
fensively this season with a .307
district batting average. The senior
batted .305 in non-district play.
The southpaw (lefthanded) bat-
ter struggled early in the year, but
has come through with several key
hits in district play.
Rusk trailed Diboll 3-2 going into
the bottom of the Beventh inning in
its 20-AAA opener when Whitehead
stepped to the plate with a runner
on first, needing a big hit to tie the
game. The Lumbeijacks were within
a pitch of winning the game, but
Whitehead ripped a triple down the
rightfield line to tie the game. The
Eagles eventually won the game 4-
3 in eight innings.
Then against Hudson, Whitehead
ripped a two-run double in the first
inning. The senior stroked a triple
against Huntington for yet another
run batted in. He also drove in a
first inning run against Center on
an infield single.
Pitching wise, Whitehead has
sparkled most of the year on the
mound with a 5-2 record. He sty-
mied Center 5-1 Tuesday night, lim-
iting the Roughriders to only two
hits, both singles while striking out
10 batters.
The offensive newcomer on the
block has been junior Dax Bowman.
He didn't even play varsity baseball
last season, but has surprised both
his opposition and teammates with
an impressive .416 district average
going into the Center game.
Bowman finished non-district
play with a .400 average and seems
to be gaining confidence every game
he plays.
"I really didn't know what to ex-
pect from Bowman this year," Rusk
Coach Richard Tucker said. "He's
really done a good job with the bat,
and he's been the most pleasant
surprise on the team."
Bowman, the Eagles' starting
third baseman has been hitting sixth
in the lineup, and Tucker sure wants
to keep his new founded offensive
weapon comfortable.
The junior was struggling offen-
sively prior to a doubleheader
against Palestine back on March
20, only three days before district
play began. In the twinbill victory,
Bowman came through with four
big hits and he has been swinging a
good stick ever since.
"I just have more confidence this
year playing on the varsity. When I
started hitting the ball well, then I
knew I could be successful at the
varsity level," Bowman admitted.
Bowman acknowledged that he
had trouble hitting a low-outside
pitch. Coach Tucker has helped his
new pupil by telling him to punch
the ball to rightfield. The student
seems to have learned his lesson
well from his teacher.
The junior third baseman has had
several key hitB this season. Bow-
man singled in a run against
Hudson, and then had his biggest
thrill of the season against Hun-
tingdon when he hit a two-run first
inning homerun to spark his team
to a quick 4-0 lead.
"I knew when I hit that ball
(homerun over the centerfield fence)
against Huntington that it would go
out of the park. It was the first
homerun I ever hit," Bowman re-
called.
"We'll be in the playoffs again this
season if we keep our attitudes up
and our heads in the game. We just
have to take the season one game at
a time," Bowman said.
Bowman thinks that confidence
equals success in the game of base-
ball, and you know he's right.
FEATURED PLAYERS THIS WEEK!
Dax Bowman
Billy Whitehead
Rusk extends winning streak
By...STEVE LEE,
Sports Writer
Rusk defeated both Center 5-2,
and Central 5-4 recently to extend
its 20-AAA winning streak to four
games to pull into a first place first
round tie with the Crockett Bull-
dogs.
The Eagles were to travel to
Corrigan-Camden Tuesday, while
Crockett was to play Center to end
first round play in 20-AAA competi-
tion.
Rusk can finish no worse than
second in the first round as the
Eagles knocked off Central 5-4 in
thrilling fashion Friday night.
Crockett defeated Hudson as both
teams stand 5-1. The Crockett Bull-
dogs will take first place in the first
round if both Rusk and Crockett
win on Tuesday. A Crockett loss and
a Rusk win would insure the Eagles
of first place.
Crockett rallied past Rusk 10-7
on March 26 to gain the upper hand
in district competition.
Rusk scored five runs in the first
three innings to defeat Central 5-4
as Casey Gates ran his record to 5-
0, thanks to a strong three-inning
relief and save performance by Billy
Whitehead.
Gates, the Eagles' leading hitter,
batting over .500 in district play
opened the game with a booming
double to rightfield. Clint Dosser
and Ronnie Gates also singled and
Dax Bowman delivered a two-run
single. Ronnie Gates later scored on
an error by the Bulldogs' catcher.
The Eagles scored again in the
second as Scott Ramey singled and
advanced to third on Casey Gates'
single. Ramey came in to score on
another error by the Central catcher.
Central committed seven costly
errors, and those key mistakes
played a mtgor role in the outcome
of the game.
The visitors struck for their first
run of the game in the top of the
third as Kevin Brown hit a solo
homerun over the right-field fence.
Rusk came right back in the bot-
tom of the third as Ronnie Gates hit
a one-out double and scored on an
error by the Central pitcher.
Central got back into the game in
the top of the fifth scoring three
runs to pull within 5-4. Gates walked
in one run before being relieved by
Whitehead. Whitehead surrendered
a two-run single by Jamie Hopper
before working out of a big jam to
preserve the victory for Gates.
Whitehead worked three innings,
allowing only one hit and struckout
seven and walked three Central
batters.
Gates worked four innings, al-
lowed four runs, four hits, struckout
four and walked one.
Rusk jumped on Center 5-2 and
Whitehead ran his record to 5-2 via
a two-hitter.
The Eagles erupted for four runs
in the top of the first against the
Roughriders. Casey Gates doubled
and Clint Dosser, Whitehead and
Clayton all singled to ignite the big
inning. Clayton later scored on a
wild-pitch.
Center got on the scoreboard in
the bottom of the fourth, taking ad-
vantage of two Rusk errors. Jeremy
Lawson delivered a sacrifice fly to
drive in the run.
Rusk closed out its scoring in the
top of the sixth as David Crysup
walked and scored on an infield
single by Dosser.
The Eagles will begin second
round 20-AAA play Tuesday April
20 at Diboll. Rusk will entertain the
Crockett Bulldogs on Friday April
23 at 7 p.m. Rusk stands 11-3 on the
year.
These area business firms ask you
to join them in support of RUSK HIGH SCHOOL 1993 Baseball:
Larry's Machine
Shop
wl (903)683-2775
NIXSON
PHARMACY
Rusk • (903)683-2358
Guinn Electric
Residential & Commercial
(903)683-2181
Cherokee County
Electric Cooperative
Association
Hwy. 69 North, Rusk • (903)683-2248
ED ALLEN
Agent for Texas Farm Bureau
Barbara's
Burgers
"Serving Our Hometown'
Rusk • (903)683-4461
1st State Bank
of Rusk
I(903)682-2254 • Member FDIC* On the Square
RUSK BODY
SHOP
Hwy. 69 N„ Rusk • (903)683-5961
(¡OEAqiES!
Jerry Williams
Plumbing Co.
= (903)683-4753 =
Tommy's Auto
Repair
Loop .¡43 NRusk • (V03)()83-5534
ISAACS
MOTOR
COMPANY
HWY. 69 S., RUSK • 683-2202
For AB Your Insurance Needs:
Tosh Insurance
— Agency —
111 £ 6th St., Rusk • (903)683-5433
• Steve's One Sto^ •
Hwy. 69 South* 6-10 Everday
RUSK «(903)683-2431
CHAPMAN
PHARMACY
100 E. 5th, Rusk • (903)683-2422
Supporting Our Youth!
Hudson Brothers
Mining Company
Rusk (903)683-2109
All it'll
I up to M a
Phone in
orders:
(903)683-4515
1106 Dickinson,
Rusk
RUSK
ALTO
N-MORE
Video Superstore
-Tom Ball Realty—
(903)683-2525
Hwy. 69 South, Rusk
Rusk
1304 N. Main
Auto
(903J633-6388 PíH*tS
Insurance Companies
(903)683-2576
Birmingham
Health
Care Center
2205 Johnson Dr., Rusk • (903)683-5444
L & L
Ford-Mercury
Hwy. 69 N., Rusk • 683-2204
r RUSK
Allen s Tires (903)683-5599
& Custom 'Wheels
SESCO
X
Southwestern Electric Service Company
Equal Opportunity Employer
412 N. Main, Rusk • (903)683-2217
DON'S MEAT
MARKET
At ^HTTJnRusk
(903)683-6563
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Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 145, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 1993, newspaper, April 15, 1993; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152107/m1/3/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.