Bulldogs top Henderson, 13-4
Sets up winner-take-all game Friday with Mavs
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

The playoff situation for District 12-4A is finally taking shape. And with one game left to play, it couldn't be more clear.

Kilgore High School beat Henderson Tuesday night, 13-4, in Henderson, and the Marshall Mavericks defeated Whitehouse. That sets up a high school baseball version of a heavyweight championship fight on Friday night here at 6 p.m. at Driller Park. The Kilgore-Marshall winner claims the third and absolutely final playoff spot in the district - the season is over for the loser.

"We said at the first of the year we wanted to get to this game, and it have meaning," said Kilgore second-year coach Jeff Blackstone. "Our playoffs started (Tuesday). We're in a win-or-go-home situation already."

Kilgore is 13-10 overall this season, and 7-6 in district play, and by virtue of the win over Henderson, KHS is in fourth place alone. Marshall (8-5) is in third, one game better than the Bulldogs, and a Kilgore win Friday would give them both 8-6 district records. But Kilgore beat Marshall in the first round of district play, and would own the tiebreaker with a sweep.

Danny Sharpe had yet another big night for the Bulldogs. He went 6 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out seven Lions. He walked two and allowed just one run.

At the plate, Sharpe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a single. He had a thirdinning double off the wall that scored two. "It was about a foot away from being a grand slam," Blackstone said.

Sharpe finished with 4 RBI.

Also against Henderson, Nick Sullivan went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Bulldogs, and Andrew Ector had a double, as well.