'Jacks beat Valley
TEXAS COLLEGIATE LEAGUE BASEBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray A LITTLE TOO LATE - Paige Hodges of the East Texas Pump Jacks (13, bottom) slides into second on Friday against Brazos Valley, but doesn't beat the throw. Hodges and his teammates got the best of Brazos, though, taking a 5-1 win on Friday at Driller Park. The Pump Jacks continue their first-ever season this weekend, hosting McKinney today. The 'Jacks are off on Monday, and home again Tuesday night.

It's been a while since the East Texas Pump Jacks picked up consecutive wins, and after a victory Friday night over Brazos Valley at home, the 'Jacks were to try and win their second straight game Saturday.

East Texas beat Brazos 5-1 on Friday night at Driller Park, picking up a Fourth-of-July victory. The Kilgore News Herald went to press Saturday afternoon for this Sunday edition of the paper, but the 'Jacks (9-12 through the first half of their inaugural season) were to have a busy weekend. Texas Collegiate League-leading McKinney was to visit Driller on Saturday and today, both 7:05 p.m. start times, with a fireworks show following Saturday's game.

The Pump Jacks take Monday off, then host Coppell on Tuesday and Wednesday. They visit McKinney Thursday, then host the Marshals on Friday.

Brazos beat East Texas on Thursday night, an 8-6 win (the News Herald had no Fourth-of- July edition on Friday). The Pump Jacks gave up a couple of runs late to allow the Bombers to take that Thursday win. Logan Moro had an RBI double and a sacrifice fly for an RBI for the Pump Jacks in that contest, and Josh Riley had a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.

Tonight at Driller, the 'Jacks will host the first family night of the season, with discounts on tickets and meal packages available that will certainly appeal to families - or maybe just friends looking to come to the ballpark and save a few bucks. Four grandstand tickets will cost just $12. Fans will also have the option of purchasing a meal package with their tickets, bringing the total for all four guests, including both tickets and meals, to only $25.

Tickets for Pump Jacks' games, even premium seating, are affordable. They're on sale for this weekend's games and the remainder of the season at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online, and printed at home on any home printer, by visiting the team's website.

Single-game tickets start at $5 each, or $4 for children and seniors, for grandstand general admission tickets. Upper box seats are $8 each, and lower box seats are only $10 per ticket.