’Dogs dominate All-District

By MITCH LUCAS
sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

BULLDOGBASEBALL DECORATED — Kilgore’s District 17-4A champion Bulldogs secured plenty of spots on the All-District team, including coach of the year TimHarkrider (inset), offensive player of the year Casey Whitmer (middle photo) and overall most valuable player of the year Pat McCrory (left). KHS went 27-7 this season, capturing the 17-4A championship in the process. Eight other Bulldogs were also named as a part of the team, which is voted upon and chosen by the coaches of the district.

Since Kilgore High School’s baseball team won their second consecutive district championship — this one outright — it’s only fitting that the All-District team have a Kilgore flavor.

Photo by Kathy Bowden The Bulldogs, who just finished their playoff run over the weekend and ended the season at 27-7, captured three superlatives on the All-District 17-4A team, announced today, including overall most valuable player, the offensive player of the year and the coach of the year.

Kilgore pitcher-shortstop Pat McCrory, a senior, won the overall MVP honor. McCrory was outstanding in his final campaign at KHS, going 9-2 on the mound over the course of the season. Against district competition, “all” McCrory did was go 6-0 and pitch two no-hitters (Pine Tree, Marshall). He had a 0.76 ERA and struck out 78 batters in 36 innings.

HARKRIDER For the year, McCrory struck out 130 over 69 1/4 innings, and had a 1.21 ERA.

At the plate, McCrory had the second-best bat for KHS on the season, hitting .461 overall. In district play, he was .364 with six doubles. And he was 15 for 15 in stolen base attempts.

McCrory has signed with Navarro.

Whitmer, a junior, was the Bulldogs’ leading hitter this year, hitting .485 overall, and .513 against 17-4A foes. In district play, he had seven doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI and an .846 slugging percentage.

Kilgore coach Tim Harkrider shared the district’s coach of the year honors with Pine Tree’s Terry Pirtle. Harkrider guided the ’Dogs to Kilgore’s first outright district championship in decades, and into the third round of the playoffs (the Class 4A Region III quarterfinals). Pirtle’s Pine Tree Pirates made the playoffs as the third team in the district, finishing with a first-round loss to Brenham.

The All-District team is chosen strictly by the coaches of teams in the district, which, including Kilgore, is made up by Henderson, Pine Tree, Hallsville, Marshall, Nacogdoches, Jacksonville and Whitehouse. Marshall finished second in the district, but lost to New Caney in the first round of the postseason.

Second baseman Kyle Shipp was the only Bulldog on the first team. Shipp, a junior, finished with a .408 batting average and tied for the team lead with 28 RBI.

Kilgore catcher Chase Patterson, center fielder Trey Sands and left fielder Courtney Thomas (both seniors), pitcher Brian Hendrix and designated hitter Eddie Jones were voted to the second team.

First baseman Andrew Terrell (a senior) and infielder Daren Chappell were named honorable mention.

Members of the first team infield other than Shipp were Hallsville’s Cody Jones, Henderson’s Patrick Lewis, Whitehouse’s Josh Wilson, Hallsville’s Shane Fry, Marshall’s Corey Brown, Hallsville’s Daniel Slater (utility player) and Nacogdoches’ Kyle Labosky (designated hitter).

First-team outfielders were Hallsville’s Cody Rogers, Marshall’s Jared Hood, Pine Tree’s Matt Marshall, Henderson’s Joel Johnson and Jacksonville’s Carlos Sturrock.

First-team pitchers were Pine Tree’s Zane Hendon, Henderson’s Kyle Cone and Whitehouse’s Peter Sullivan.

Members of the second team infield, other than KHS players: Whitehouse’s Raymond Hunter, Marshall’s Austin Hall, Jacksonville’s Barrett Lewis, Whitehouse’s Clayton Alexander, Henderson’s Ross Flanagan, Hallsville’s Ryan Gravitt, Pine Tree’s Clay Palmer, Hallsville’s Josh Schattel (utility player) and Henderson’s Austin Siler (DH).

Joining Sands and Thomas on the second-team outfield are Hallsville’s Ryan Hopkins, Pine Tree’s Ryan Bennett and Nac’s Stewart Hill, a freshman.

Second-team pitchers, along with Kilgore’s Hendrix, are Henderson’s Darrell Raspberry and Pine Tree’s Jeff Thompson.