LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BASKETBALL

TAKE IT! - Kilgore's Jessica Shepherd (front), a freshman, takes the handoff from teammate Brandi Johnson during track and field practice on Tuesday afternoon. The KHS track team opens its season Thursday at Pine Tree High School's Graham-Knowles Relays.

KC teams host J'ville tonight

With the Region XIV Conference tournaments looming - they're here at Masters Gymnasium the weekend of March 7-10 - Kilgore College's basketball programs are in a race against time.

The Lady Rangers and Runnin' Rangers, both currently out of the standings, as far as the conference tournaments go, will host Jacksonville College tonight, beginning with the Lady Rangers at 5:30 p.m. The men will follow, tipping off around 7:30.

TRACK

KHS starts season Thursday

The Kilgore High School track & field team will start the 2008 campaign on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Pine Tree High School in the annual Graham Knowles Relays.

The girls track team is coached by Kerry Strong, and the boys are coached once again by Phillip Lane.

BASEBALL

Kilgore in RCC tomorrow

The Kilgore High School baseball team will play in the Rose City Classic this weekend, beginning tomorrow at the University of Texas at Tyler Field at 11 a.m. against Rockwall.

Kilgore (1-0), which opened its 2008 season with an 8-3 victory at Wills Point on Monday, will play twice on Friday: a 3:30 p.m. game against Greenville, and an 8 p.m. game against Shreveport Byrd. Both of Friday's games will be at Tyler's Mike Carter Field.

Kilgore finishes the tournament with a game against Haughton on Saturday morning at Carter Field at 10 a.m.

The Diamond 'Dogs will have their home opener against Bullard at Driller Park here on Tuesday, a 6 p.m. start

KBBA registration continues

Sign up for the 2008 season of the Kilgore Boys Baseball Association (KBBA) resumes Friday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the KBBA complex on Harris Street.

Registration is $75 per player. Children must be five years old before April 30, and should bring birth certificates to registration. Ages range from five through 14.

Tryouts will also be at the KBBA Harris Street complex on March 1, the time to be announced.

For more information on KBBA, call the KBBA office at (903) 984-4170, or contact the organization via email (kilgorebaseball@yahoo.com). GOLF

Golf-a-thon benefit March 8

At Meadowbrook Country Club on Saturday, March 8, there will be a golf-a-thon to benefit the American Cancer Society. Participants will play 54 holes of best ball, with a triple bogey maximum on any hole played.

A minimum donation of $500 to the American Cancer Society is required to enter.

For the donation, your food and drink for the day will be provided, you'll get a Nike Dri-Fit shirt, your cart and green fees are included in that donation, and dinner and drinks at the end of the day.

To enter, call Greg Collins at (903) 988-3413.

SOFTBALL

KYSA sign-up starts Saturday

Registration for the spring season of the Kilgore Youth Softball Association (KYSA) will begin Saturday, and will be held several days throughout the first portion of March.

Registration will be held at the sports complex on Highway 135 (that's also where games are played) at the red building. There is a registration fee of $75 per player, with discounts after registering two players from the same household.

The first registration day is this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the sports complex. There are two more Saturday registration days: March 1 and March 8, both from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

There are also a pair of mid-week registration days: Tuesday, Feb. 26 (from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.) and Tuesday, March 4 (from 4 p.m. until 6).

For more information, contact Evelyn Stokes at (903) 984-8704, or see the KYSA website at kysakilgore.org.