WAKE UP! ON ETBLITZ | The REAL all-state softball players from the ETBlitz.com area & the Henderson Blue Sox
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up! is presented every single day here on ETBlitz.com along with our ad partner, Cozy Coffee Station. You regulars know what I’m about to say, or at least you think you do: go see ‘em in Gilmer at 755 Highway 271 North, or in Kilgore at 110 Midtown Plaza, but before you go – unless you have a preconceived favorite – look at their menu here: Home | Cozy Coffee Station. They have more than just drinks. But even if they didn’t, their drinks would be enough.
All-State softball
It’s been a busy few weeks around here, and I didn’t want the state’s REAL softball and baseball all-state teams to get by without mentioning the kids who made those teams from our coverage area.
What are the REAL all-state teams?
That would be the ones voted on by the Texas Sports Writers Association, in conjunction with Blue Bell. Now, Blue Bell doesn’t vote – they do make great ice cream. But the sportswriters (it is one word; I don’t know why it’s two in the name) are the ones who are actually out there watching these games. They’re the ones who should be voting on these kids, not the people sitting in the office of some outdated magazine somewhere who do not cover them.
I personally wouldn’t have voted this way; I think a LOT of our local girls should have been voted higher. But I have to report to you how the vote turned out, so here goes.
On the Blue Bell / TSWA Class 4A All-State Team, from the ETBlitz.com coverage area, Henderson High School’s Jacie Boothe and Chloe Ellis were both named honorable mention at pitcher, teammate Addison Standley as an outfielder, and Addy Davis as utility; Kilgore’s Molly Quine was named honorable mention at second base.
As a part of the Blue Bell / TSWA 3A All-State team, again from our coverage area, three first-teamers: Jaidyn Marshall of White Oak was named all-state first team at second base, Addison McClanahan as a designated hitter / flex player and Tatum’s Camryn Milam as an outfielder!
Continuing with 3A all-state, Arp shortstop Neci Potts and outfielder Addison Carpenter were both named to the third team. Honorable mentions in 3A: Troup’s Taylor Gillispie (pitcher), Arp’s Lacy Fletcher (pitcher), White Oak’s Kylie Caraway (catcher), Arp’s Aubry Way (catcher), White Oak’s Kinnadie Rayson (first base), Arp’s Maddie Birdsong (first base), Gladewater’s Karlee Moses (third base), White Oak’s Madi Baker (shortstop), Sabine’s Breanna Hill (outfield).
The Blue Bell 2A All-State Team included Overton’s Kelsey Vaught (pitcher) and Mason Fenter (outfield).
And if you’d like to read more – like the players and coaches of the year in each classification – here’s the link: https://txswa.org/allstatesoftball25.php.
When the TSWA’s all-state baseball teams are announced, I feel certain there will be a few ETBlitz-area players involved, and we’ll do the same thing.
Congratulations, girls; fantastic job.
Blue Sox making the big time
I’ll be honest: I’m a pretty good history buff on baseball. I can’t stump my friend Danny Harrison, of Kilgore. I’m not sure many people can. But I’d never heard of the Blue Sox.
Until last night.
I was informed by a few of their fans that they do exist.
They’re a 19-under team under the banner of the Henderson Boys Baseball Association, but with players from all over East Texas, actually, and they’re going to the Dixie Baseball World Series in Louisiana late this month.
This is not the first rodeo for the Sox – they won the 2024 Pre-Majors World Series. So they’ve got the band back together and they’re headed to Sterlington, Louisiana on July 25-30 to enter a 12-team tournament, aiming for another title.
Five Henderson players are on the Blue Sox roster, and they’re coached by Bart Bradley and Billy Haynes.
Hey, man – go, Blue Sox!
Whataburger Personality Profile
Another reminder that our Whataburger Personality Profile will be on ETBlitz.com on Friday.
It’s an extended interview, a feature, with someone who will have a major impact with sports, or the sports scene, I’ll word it, in the ETB coverage area in the 2025-26 school year. We don’t have our Whataburger / ETB Players of the Week in the summer, but we do like to turn the spotlight on those folks you might not always hear from, and our initial Personality Profile is Friday. We’re looking forward to it!
And finally…
Is anybody but me looking forward to the new “Superman” movie? It hits next Friday! Did anybody but me even know there WAS a new “Superman” movie? Well, it’s in theatres next Friday! And here’s the trailer…