'Dogs outlast PT; now 3-1 in district play
Visit Hallsville in big one Tuesday
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray PLAY AT THE PLATE - Pine Tree left fielder Max Standifer (left) tries to scoot under the tag of Kilgore High School catcher Chris Dudley, in a key play from Thursday night's District 12-4A game between the two at Driller Park. Dudley tagged Standifer out, the third out of the Pirates' fourth inning, as PT was trying to rally. The Bulldogs held on, though, for a 5-2 win, and are now 3-1 in 12-4A play. Kilgore visits Hallsville Tuesday.

The last time the Pine Tree Pirates played at Driller Park earlier this season in the Oil Belt Classic tournament, they could do no wrong, leaving the OBC unbeaten and in impressive fashion.

Weeks later, they now look like an also-ran in the District 12-4A playoff race.

Kilgore scored four runs early in its game with Pine Tree on Thursday night at Driller, then got a solo home run from left fielder Trevor Moon, and held on for a 5-2 victory. With that win, coach Jeff Blackstone's Diamond 'Dogs are 3-1 in the district, a three-way tie for second with Hallsville and Marshall.

That sets up an important game Tuesday night at Hallsville for what could be for second place outright. Hallsville outlasted Whitehouse, 7-6, Tuesday night and is 3-1 in district play, as well. Marshall beat Henderson 4-3, and the Mavericks are 3-1. Nacogdoches is the district leader - the Dragons are 4-0 - and beat Jacksonville, 5-4, on Tuesday. Jacksonville is 1-3 in district play, as is Pine Tree. Whitehouse is winless (0-4) in the district so far.

Kilgore is also 9-5 on the season.

Pitcher Danny Sharp was just that - sharp - against the Pirates on Tuesday. Sharp went the distance on the hill, striking out 12, allowing six hits and throwing 110 pitches. The left-hander pitched his way out of a jam on a couple of occasions. The Pirates loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning with no outs - Sharp struck out the next two batters, then got the final out when PT left fielder Max Standifer was thrown out at home. KHS got out of the inning allowing just one run.

The Bulldogs were in a little bit of a tight spot in the top of the fifth when Pine Tree plated a run on a wild pitch, but Sharp recovered again, striking out Brett McAfee and Standifer to end the threat.

And Sharp was backed by some offense by the 'Dogs. Kilgore scored four runs in the bottom of the first to knock the wind out of the Pirates' sails early. Center fielder Andrew Ector led off with a double, and third baseman Trace DeBerry drew a walk. A double by shortstop Steven McBryde scored Ector, and then McAfee, who would take the loss on the mound for PT, hit KHS catcher Chris Dudley.

Kilgore designated hitter Xavian Sanders smacked an RBI single to score McBryde, and then Sanders himself scored on an RBI single by Sharpe.

Kilgore's final run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth, a solo shot over the left field wall by Moon, who celebrated briefly at home plate with his teammates after scoring.

Dudley, who has been on a tear at the plate this year, added a single for Kilgore in the bottom of the third; DeBerry had a single, as well, and so did first baseman Ryan Heimer; and second baseman Jared Alexander had a double in the bottom of the fifth.

The Bulldogs visit Hallsville Tuesday at 6, then host Henderson on Friday at that same time.

The top three teams in the district will qualify for the UIL Class 4A playoffs, a domain in which Kilgore has been very successful in the past, especially since the 2004 season. The Bulldogs have been to the playoffs four straight years. This is Blackstone's second year.