Playoff run ends for Bulldogs with 4-2 loss at Sulphur Springs
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL/ UIL CLASS 4A BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

NOT A BAD WAY TO GO OUT - Kilgore High School senior Trace DeBerry (left) reached on an error twice, had a double and scored, and did a nice job pitching in relief for the Bulldogs Friday night at Sulphur Springs. Kilgore came up short in the Class 4A bi-district playoff game between the teams, dropping a 7-2 decision. DeBerry, the team's only senior, had a good career at KHS, a part of four playoff teams. The Bulldogs have made the playoffs six straight years.

SULPHUR SPRINGS - The homestanding Sulphur Springs Panthers took an early lead, added to it and then weathered a few comeback attempts from the Kilgore High School Bulldogs to survive the UIL Class 4A bi-district baseball playoff between the schools on Friday night.

Sulphur Springs defeated Kilgore, 7-2, and advanced to the area round, where the Panthers will face 4A power Mesquite Poteet this week.

For Kilgore, it marked the early end to the postseason, one the Bulldogs rallied to get to. The Diamond 'Dogs looked to be out of playoff contention for a while late in the District 12- 4A schedule, but got a few breaks (losses by Marshall and Henderson) and made a few of their own, winning four of their last five games to earn the final playoff spot.

KHS finished the season with a 15-12 overall record.

The Bulldogs managed one base-runner - senior Trace DeBerry - in the top of the first inning, when SS made an error. As it turned out, it would be one of very few mistakes the Panthers would make all night.

After getting out of the top half of the first without allowing a Kilgore run, the Panthers (15-9) got a lead-off single from

Jeff Beck in the bottom of the first. Beck advanced to second on a groundout hit by Dalton Abner, then scored on an error in an at-bat by pitcher Britton Diamond.

The bottom of the third inning, though, proved to be a nightmare for Kilgore. Sulphur Springs second baseman Brandon Whittle led off with a triple, then scored when Beck doubled. Abner reached on a fielder's choice, and Beck scored on an error, giving Sulphur a 3- 0 advantage.

The Panthers would add another run when Jase Jackson doubled to right center field, making it 4-0. Kilgore pitcher Danny Sharpe struck out Kevin May to end the inning.

The Bulldogs put together a threat of their own in the top of the fourth. DeBerry, playing in what would be his final game as a Bulldog, doubled to lead off the inning, then scored on an RBI single by catcher Chris Dudley. Sharpe singled and then two batters later, Jared Alexander walked to load the bases. But Diamond got out of the inning with a strikeout, and the Bulldogs left the bases loaded. It was that kind of a night for Kilgore.

DeBerry moved from third base to the pitcher's mound in the bottom of the fourth inning, getting Diamond and Jackson to fly out and end the threat after SS had added three more runs, to go up 7-1.

Kilgore would get one more run in the game, in the top of the fifth. Left fielder Trevor Moon doubled to lead off the inning, and would score on an error during an at-bat by (guess who?) DeBerry, who reached on an error and went all the way to second. But the Panthers notched two quick outs and DeBerry was left stranded.

Sharpe, who was a marathon man on the mound for Kilgore in the final two weeks of the season, went 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two. DeBerry went the rest of the way, allowing two hits.

For Kilgore in the contest, DeBerry reached twice on errors, scored once and also had a double. Dudley had the RBI single that scored DeBerry. Sharpe had a single, and Moon had two doubles, including one in the seventh inning.

Although Sulphur Springs hit several balls into center field and right center, Andrew Ector and Robert Poland did a very good job, both in making catches and getting the ball back to the infield quickly, resulting in SS runners being thrown out on a couple of occasions. Also, Dudley and shortstop Steven McBryde hooked up late in the game to pick off a runner at second base.