Rust’s Grit helps lift Eagles to Final Four berth

​by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

The silence that ripped through the Grain Valley High School bleachers Saturday morning, after Madison Rust injured her ankle sliding into first base in the top of the first inning of the Eagles Class 5 state quarterfinal game, was deafening.

The Eagles were a win away from going to the final four for the first time in 13 years, when they finished in second place in Class 3 action, and one of their premier players was on the ground, talking to the team's athletic trainer.

"I didn't know what had happened, I just knew it hurt and it looked bad," said Rust, whose ankle hit first base hard, which created some tense moments for the Eagles.
 
"When I got my shoe off, it really hurt, but once I got a brace I felt better. If there was any way I could play, I was going to play. I'd have played on crutches. That's how important the game was to me - and everyone on our team."
 
Rust jogged up the first base line a few times, before giving coach Flip Courter the thumbs up.

She would go on to score the first run of the game, on an RBI single by starting pitcher Molly Jones, and later rob Carsen Lovelady of a solo home run - more on that in a few minutes - in a nine-inning 2-1 victory over Liberty North.

"Staying in the game, scoring the first run and robbing their No. 2 hitter of home run - that's what Madison Rust does for this team," Courter said.

"I like to call her our Reggie Jackson - the straw that stirs the drink. When she's out in center, and a ball gets hit anywhere near her, you feel pretty comfortable that she's going to turn it into an out,

"Offensively, she is a great table setter for our big bats in the middle of the order,.

"She finds a way to get on base, and when she's out there, she creates havoc."

Rust finished with five put outs in center field Saturday and has committed no errors in 48 attempts this season.

For the season, she is hitting .505 with a .570 OBP, 1.334 OPS and .763 SLG%. She has driven in 25 runs and scored 41 times.

"Madison just does it all," Jones said. "When (Lovelady) hit that ball to center, I was confident Madison would run it down, and she did," Jones said. "She's in the middle of everything offensively and defensively."

Wednesday afternoon, the Eagles boarded the bus to Springfield, where they will play Columbia Rock Bridge at noon at Meador Park.

"We came close last year, and now, we're headed to the final four!" Rust said. "Now, we have to take care of business at state. It's great to go, but our only goal is winning a state championship."

Rust finished with five put outs in center field Saturday and has committed no errors in 48 attempts this season. For the season, she is hitting .505 with a .570 OBP, 1.334 OPS and .763 SLG%. She has driven in 25 runs and scored 41 times. Photo credit: David Rainey, Grain Valley News