Bulldogs at Henderson tonight
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray MAKING CONTACT - Kilgore High School junior Andrew Ector (above) has four hits in the last two games for the Bulldogs. The baseball Bulldogs are still in the hunt to make the UIL Class 4A playoffs, and visit Henderson tonight, a 6 p.m. start. A win wouldn't clinch a playoff spot for Kilgore, but it would go a long way to doing so. The Bulldogs can clinch by winning tonight, and then winning Friday's season finale versus Marshall.

There are so many scenarios involving the third and final playoff spot in District 12- 4A headed into tonight's round of games, it's really confusing.

Here's what Kilgore fans need to know: if their Bulldogs win the final two games of the season - meaning wins tonight in Henderson and Friday at home against Marshall - then KHS is in the Class 4A playoffs for the sixth straight season.

Kilgore (6-6 in 12-4A), coached by Jeff Blackstone, visits Henderson tonight at 6 p.m., hoping to set up a winner-take-all challenge against Marshall's Mavericks at Driller Park on Friday. To do so, Kilgore will have to beat a scrappy Lions team that has forced its way back into playoff contention.

Here's how it goes: if the Diamond 'Dogs win their last two games, they're in the playoffs, no question, as the No. 3 seed from 12-4A. If Kilgore loses to Henderson tonight, KHS needs Whitehouse to pull an upset over Marshall tonight.

Henderson has to win tonight. A loss to Kilgore tonight would eliminate the Lions from the playoff race.

Marshall put itself in good position by upsetting the district's top team, Nacogdoches, on Friday night. The Mavericks have just five district losses (one of them, though, is to Kilgore).

The Bulldogs come off a 5-3 loss at Driller to Hallsville on Friday night. It was a game where Kilgore trailed much of the way, rallied late, but not enough. Since both Ryan Heimer and Trace DeBerry saw action on Friday, it's a good bet that the Bulldogs' ace, Danny Sharpe, will be on the mound to start tonight's game at Henderson.

For the last five years, the Bulldogs have had one of the best high school baseball programs in East Texas. They've made the playoffs five straight seasons under three different coaches, and in 2004, they were one series win away from a state tournament berth.

KHS was eliminated from the playoffs last year in the second round by Highland Park.