KHS teams both lose to Whitehouse; will host Nac early tonight
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

It seems the Kilgore High School baseball and softball teams have played more games this season on days where games weren't scheduled than they have on planned game days.

"I'm sick of seeing that tarp, I know that," KHS baseball coach Jeff Blackstone laughed.

They're trying to avoid more rain-outs tonight, as storms again are in the forecast. Both KHS teams are scheduled to host Nacogdoches tonight, and games normally start at 6 p.m. But both the KHS baseball and softball programs have moved up the games for a 5 p.m. start today, hoping to avoid weather coming in tonight.

The Bulldogs have been up and down a bit in District 12- 4A play this year, and Saturday, a make-up game, was a down day. Kilgore lost to Whitehouse, 7-4, on Saturday night, making up a rain-out on Friday.

That drops the Bulldogs to 10-8 overall, and 4-4 in 12-4A play. They're all alone in fourth place right now, as both Henderson and Marshall are 5-3 in the district. The top three teams in each district make the playoffs, something Kilgore has done for five straight years.

First baseman Danny Sharpe had a 2-RBI double late to bring Kilgore within two runs (6-4), but the Wildcats, who have been struggling in district play, added a seventh run in the top of the seventh to go up by three runs, and the Bulldogs couldn't catch them. Ryan Heimer took the loss for Kilgore on the mound.

But this morning, Blackstone had a glass-is-half-full, positive approach.

"We've definitely still in it," the second-year head coach said. "There is a lot of baseball left, and I do believe we've got a good chance to be in that top three. But we're going to have to play a heck of a lot better."

Kilgore's softball team made up Friday's rain-out game against Whitehouse on Monday, losing to the Lady Wildcats, 14-0.

Brianna Sanders had a pair of hits for Kilgore, and Alyssa McKinney, Chelsea Warren and Gena Andrews all hit, as well. The young Lady Bulldogs are 4-16 overall this season, and 0-9 in district play. KHS lost to Nac 3-2 in the first round in an eight-inning game.