Kilgore opens 12-4A with win at Whitehouse
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

One thing no one should question about the Kilgore High School baseball team this season is the team's ability to bounce back.

After an up-and-down performance in the Oil Belt Classic Tournament here at Driller Park a couple of weekends ago, the Bulldogs looked like a well-oiled machine Tuesday night in the District 12- 4A opener at Whitehouse High School, beating the Wildcats 6-1 to start the district schedule.

"We're starting to come together a little bit, playing a little more as a team," said coach Jeff Blackstone, in his second season heading up the baseball program at KHS. "Our kids are tough. I thought they played pretty well."

Kilgore (7-4 overall, 1-0 in 12-4A) has its second district game on the road, as well, playing at Nacogdoches on Friday night.

Blackstone said the Dragons should prove to be a challenge.

"They've got a lot of returners," he said. "Their whole pitching staff is back. They're pretty much picked to be the front-runners in the district. ...(To be able to go 2-0 in district play) would be really big."

Kilgore got a complete game on the mound Tuesday night at Whitehouse from Danny Sharpe. Sharpe was impressive, striking out 12 over seven innings. He only walked one batter, and allowed just five hits. Whitehouse didn't even score until the sixth inning.

At the plate, the big gun was catcher Chris Dudley, who had two home runs against the Wildcats. Dudley has six homers on the young season. He also had a single and a double, finished 4-for-4, and had 5 RBI.

The Bulldogs in the top of the third inning had back-to-back homers, as designated hitter Xavian Sanders had a solo shot after one of Dudley's long-balls. Sanders also had a double in the game.

Center fielder Andrew Ector and third baseman Trace DeBerry each had two singles in the game, and shortstop Steven McBryde had one, as well.

The Diamond 'Dogs play at Nac Friday night, and then come home for a pair of games in spring break next week: they host Jacksonville on Tuesday at 6, then get Pine Tree on Friday at that same time.

The junior varsity baseball team hosts the JV district tournament this weekend at Driller (Whitehouse is the other site). That begins Friday with Kilgore facing Hallsville at noon. Coach Ronnie Hendrix's JV Bulldogs will play again at 2:30, taking on Marshall. Games at Whitehouse also begin at noon Friday.

On Saturday, the KHS JV plays at 10 a.m. here at Driller Park against Nac, then faces Jacksonville at 12:30.