KILGOROUND
MITCH LUCAS

WELL, IF YOU'RE EXCITED about the East Texas Pump Jacks and their very first season, you don't have long to wait.

In fact, you don't have to wait past tonight, if you want to make a trip to McKinney.

The Pump Jacks open their season tonight at McKinney, a 7 p.m. start, and also play in McKinney tomorrow night before that ever-anticipated home opener at Driller Park on Thursday. You can read more about the Pump Jacks, including getting a glimpse at their roster, on the sports front page today (page 8).

Gates open at Driller on Thursday night at 6 p.m., and after a few festivities, like the national anthem and the ceremonial first pitch being thrown, the game will get under way at 7:05.

If you've been in a cave, the Pump Jacks are a Texas Collegiate League franchise featuring college baseball players, a summer wooden bat league

that serves several purposes, including keeping the players in baseball shape and entertainment for those who need a summer baseball fix. It'll be the first time in many moons that summer baseball other than the high school variety is available at Driller Park, and promises to be good entertainment.

I went out to Driller over the weekend with News Herald photographer Lester Murray to visit with team players, see the changes to Driller and just get the general feel from Pump Jacks leadership as the first week of play approaches. General Manager Mike Lieberman told me there was still quite a bit of work to do to that might take them up to the final day, but he smiled and assured me they'd be ready for Thursday's crowd.

The Pump Jacks host McKinney on Thursday and Friday here (Friday's game also involves a fireworks show, I believe) and then hit the road. McKinney will be back here next Thursday, June 19, for another home game, and after a single-game road trip on Friday, the Pump Jacks will host Coppell on Saturday, June 21. Coming to town with Coppell's Copperheads will be former Kilgore High School standout Jaron Shepherd.

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I WAS READING the Kilgore News Herald's Sunday edition and came across the item on page 3A about Nick Holda, a KHS and University of Texas graduate studying abroad in Aberdeen, Scotland as a part of the Rotary International Scholarship Program.

Nick, of course, is the son of Dr. Bill Holda, the president of Kilgore College. Nick interned here at the News Herald for a time, and is one of the smartest young men I've ever met - that is, I thought so until he showed me the video of himself skydiving (just kidding, Nick).

Anyway, nice to read that Nick is doing well, and I'm not surprised at all that his program at the Rotary Club's luncheon last week was entertaining.

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HAPPY birthday today Kim Nelson, Geoffrey Eneman, Penni Mitchell, Bert Woodruff, La Crisha Painter, Mrs. Hollis Lee, Gary Bollinger, Robin Mumphrey, Ethan Herring, Jerry Brown, Doris Bolt, Ebony Pegues, Clyde M. Ponder, Teresa Isaac, Lance Dent, Peggy Messer, Janice Connor, Auryana Fagans, Ryan Price

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Celebrating with you: Actress Gina Gershon (46), in the news lately over rumors of a relationship with Bill Clinton. Also celebrating: actress Jeanne Tripplehorn (45), model/actress Elizabeth Hurley (43), singer Faith Evans (35), actor Shane West (of "ER;" he's 30), and singer Shirley Alston Reeves of the Shirelles (67).

HAPPY anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Neil Copeland, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Beverly, Ken and Ginger Becker