LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS
BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

Kilgore teams at Hallsville tonight

Both Kilgore High School diamond teams are in action tonight at Hallsville High School.

The Lady Bulldogs softball team is still searching for its first District 12-4A victory, while the baseball game is a big one for both KHS and Hallsville, each with 3-1 district records and in a tie for second place.

First-pitch for baseball is 6 p.m. Softball begins at 4:30 p.m. with junior varsity - varsity will follow.

Kilgore's Diamond 'Dogs (9-5 overall) were off this weekend after beating Pine Tree on Thursday. Coach Jeff Blackstone's Bulldogs will host Henderson Friday at Driller, also a 6 p.m. start.

The Lady Bulldogs wind up the first round of district play tonight. The second round begins here at Stream-Flo Field on Friday, as Henderson visits.

Kilgore's girls (4-13 overall, 0-6 in district play) lost to Pine Tree at home Thursday.

TRACK & FIELD

Track team in Whitehouse Thursday

The Kilgore High School track & field team has been off for over a week, but is back on the course Thursday at Whitehouse High School.

Kilgore track is coached by Phillip Lane (boys) and Kerry Strong (girls).

The KHS track team has done very well through four meets, and this is the Bulldogs' last chance for a warm-up, so to speak, before the district meet. The 12-4A meet is scheduled to begin April 2 at Hallsville High School. Regionals are at the University of North Texas in Denton on April 25-26, and the state track meet is at the University of Texas in Austin on May 9-10.

TENNIS

Netters in action this weekend

After a two-week break, the Kilgore High School tennis team is back in action this week, too.

Coach Jason Maroney's junior varsity team plays in a tournament at Corsicana, much like the varsity did earlier this month, that's to be held Thursday, and then the varsity tennis team plays in a tournament at John Tyler High School on Friday and Saturday.

The District 12-4A tournament for JV is slated for April 1 in Jacksonville, and the varsity's district tournament is also in Jacksonville, scheduled for April 8-9.

ARCHERY

Tyler R100 begins Saturday

The Tyler Archery Club, located near the Oil Palace Arena, and Bucks & Ducks will host the Tyler R100 3-D archery shoot beginning Saturday, and concluding Sunday.

The Rinehart R100 is the world's largest 3-D archery shoot, with life-size giraffe, elk and polar bears. There are over 100 targets slated to be on hand - last year in Tyler, this event had 219 participants.

The cost to enter is $30 for adults for 50 targets, and $45 for adults for 100 targets. For couples, 50 targets is $50, and 100 targets are $75, and kids 14 and under are free, with paying adult.

Concessions will be on hand (including hot dogs and fish plates), and the Bowtech Interactive Trailer - a virtual miniworld of archery - will be on hand.

For more information, contact the Tyler Archery Pro Shop at (903) 939-0963, or you may visit them at their web site, tylerarcheryclub.com.

GOLF

Hood Classic is Friday

Rockin' C Ranch has opened registration for its upcoming benefit golf tournament.

The fifth annual Dr. Robert Hood Memorial Golf Classic will be held this Friday at Garden Valley Golf Club, with proceeds going directly towards the various programs of the camp. Rockin' C Ranch is a Christian camp on a working ranch, and is committed to providing youth with a solid Christian foundation by giving them a memorable, faith and character-building camp experience. There are various levels of financial involvement for both individuals and corporations.

"This is a great opportunity to get out and have some fun while providing a great benefit to some deserving kids," said Matt Clapp, Rockin' C Ranch Director.

The event will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. and a burger buffet followed by a shotgun start for the four-man scramble (1:30 p.m.). Prizes will be awarded for each mem- ber of the top three teams. In addition, there will be prizes for longest drive, straightest drive, closest to the pin and hole in one.

Rockin' C Ranch operates year-round as a summer camp, retreat center, outdoor education program and corporate retreat facility. To discuss sponsorships or register for the event, call (903) 858-3308, or email Jason@rockincranch.org.

Rockin' C Ranch is located north of Tyler State Park just off of Highway 14, 11 miles north of Tyler. For more information, visit their website at rockincranch.org.

FISHING

Bass Federation Deadline Nears

The deadline for bass clubs to join the Texas Bass Federation is quickly approaching. March 31 is the cutoff, said Tom Enloe, TBF president.

"We'll accept clubs up until March 31. It is a great opportunity for the individuals that make up some of Texas' best bass clubs," Enloe said. "Our affiliation with TBF, Inc. and FLW Outdoors and its sponsors provides a pathway for any level of competition a fisherman desires. We are the grass roots of the FLW."

The "hook" for many fishermen is the chance TBF offers to fish for the $1 million first-place prize in the Wal Mart/ FLW Outdoors signature event, the Forrest Wood Cup. The invitation only competition will feature top FLW Tour pros such as Jay Yelas, Scott Suggs, Dan Morehead, and many others.

"TBF is the best route for the weekend fisherman to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup, the Super Bowl of bass fishing," Enloe said.

"Anglers can fish in our state-qualifying event, do well there, and compete in the divisional tournament. Our 12 top state finishers will win a sponsored trip to the divisional TBF competition on Lewis and Clark Reservoir in Nebraska."

The Texas state qualifying event will be held May 2-3 on Richland-Chambers Reservoir near Corsicana.