Ash Grove junior Rust wins thrid golf tournament of season

Lady Pirates fall twice, but defeat Miller on diamond with solid defense, Pirates baseball remains undefeated
Ash Grove's Asher Rust continues to dominate on the links as he took first place at the Forsyth tournament at Holiday Hills—his third first place finish of the season—with a score of 72. As a team during the April 17 competition, Ash Grove tied for first with a score of 339.
Last week, Rust also took first at the Houn' Dawg Invitational in Aurora shooting an eight over par 79, on Thursday, April 13.
The Pirates traveled to Sarcoxie on Tuesday, April 11, where Rust and Ash Grove's Brock Long both shot 38 in their nine-hole match, resulting in a playoff, in which Rust prevailed on the second hole. Eli Ellis of Sarcoxie also finished tied for the lead and competed in the playoff.
Ash Grove was scheduled to travel to Willard tomorrow.

Softball
The Ash Grove High School softball team played three games last week, wining one and losing the other two.
On Thursday, April 13, the Lady Pirates hosted Miller and was able to prevail, 9-6, scoring two runs in the first inning, three runs in the second inning and four runs in the sixth inning.
Madison Lutz went 2-3, Ashlyn Gerla was 3-4, Maddi Grube went 3-4 with a double and two RBI's and Chelsye Graham finished 2-3 with three RBI's. Meagan Hawkins got the win, going seven innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out five and walking none.
Ash Grove traveled to Marionville on Tuesday, April 11, and even though they fought back to tie the game in the seventh, the Lady Pirates would lose in eight innings, 4-3.
Ash Grove scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but Marionville answered back with a single run in the third inning and two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Pirates would tie the game at 3-3 but Marionville pulled out the win with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Chelsey Andrus was 2-4 with a double and two RBI's, Marissa Andrus went 2-4 and Lutz finished the game 2-4. Hawkins took the loss, going seven and two-thirds of an inning, allowing two earned runs, while striking out 10 in the loss.
Ash Grove started the week by traveling to Marion C. Early on Monday, April 10, but came home with a 5-1 loss.
The Lady Pirates scored their only run of the game in the fifth inning. Lutz went 1-3 and Grube finished 2-3 with two doubles. Hawkins came in in the third inning and shut down Marion C. Early allowing no runs through four and a third innings, while striking out nine.
“It was a tough week; we battled each game,” said Ash Grove head coach Austin Tipton. “We lost a heartbreaker to Marionville. Still working on our fielding issues but our pitching was solid this week and our batting was pretty good as well. Just need to execute in certain spots a little better but I’m proud of how the girls fight until the last out every game.”
The Lady Pirates are now 12-9 on the season and were scheduled to travel to Pierce City last night and Greenfield today before hosting Lockwood tomorrow night.
Baseball
In baseball the Pirates hosted Sarcoxie on Thursday, April 13, and won 12-1 and hosted Diamond on Monday, April 10, winning that game 14-0.
The Pirates are currently 9-0 and were scheduled to travel to Stockton last night before hosting Marionville tomorrow night and Mt. Vernon on Friday night.