KHS-North Lamar Game 1 tonight in Paris

File photo by Lester Murray OUT! - Kilgore's Trace DeBerry (8) records an out at second base against Whitehouse, then makes the throw to first. The Bulldogs open the Class 4A playoffs tonight, facing North Lamar (at North Lamar in Paris) in Game 1 of a best-of-three-game series. The game begins at 7 p.m. The series moves, then, here to Driller Park for the balance of the series - Game 2 will be at Driller on Friday night at 7 p.m., and Game 3, if it's needed, will be at Driller on Saturday at 1 p.m. There aren't many high school baseball teams in East Texas that have had as much success as the Kilgore High School Bulldogs over the last four seasons, beginning with the revival of the baseball program in 2004.

Kilgore has played in eight playoff series since then, totaled almost 100 victories in that time frame, picked up at least a share of three district championships, and did all of this with an ever-changing lineup - and with three different head coaches.

First-year coach Jeff Blackstone and his Diamond 'Dogs hope to make their 2007 Class 4A playoff run a successful one, as well: the Bulldogs open the 4A playoffs tonight at North Lamar High School, a 7 p.m. start of Game 1 of the best-ofthree game series.

Game 2 will be at Driller Park on Friday at 7 p.m., and if they need a Game 3 to settle it, that will be here at Driller, as well, to be played Saturday at 1 p.m. That start time was moved up due to the prom at KHS Saturday evening.

Kilgore and North Lamar met once this season in a tournament hosted by North Lamar prior to the district schedule for both teams. The Panthers came out on top by one run, and ended a five-game winning streak for KHS.

"We're fairly close," Blackstone said, after learning NLHS was his playoff opponent. "It should be a good series."

Kilgore enters the playoffs this season as the third team in District 12-4A (Pine Tree won the district; Nacogdoches finished second). The Panthers were the runners-up in 11-4A (Texas High won the district and Sulphur Springs finished third).