ANOTHER DISTRICT WIN | Hale, Bullard homer lift ‘Dogs to 3-0 win over Henderson

Kilgore’s Colt Bullard hit this three-run home run in the first inning against Henderson on Saturday, and that was the difference in the District 17-4A game in Longview, as the Diamond ‘Dogs edged the Lions, 3-0. Coach Eugene Lafitte’s Bulldogs are 3-0 in 17-4A play, with wins over Center, Gilmer and now the Henderson Lions. (Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – ETBLITZ.COM)

LONGVIEW – Don’t know if Colt Bullard or Kolton Hale had their four-leaf clovers with them at the Lobo Baseball Field against Henderson on Saturday morning, in recognition of St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but Kilgore came away with a 3-0 victory against the Lions in a baseball matchup between old rivals.

The game was originally scheduled for Friday in Henderson, but rain – specifically wet fields – forced the move to Longview.

With the win, Kilgore stays unbeaten (3-0) in District 17-4A play, has won four of its last five games, period, and improves to 11-4-1 for the season, while the loss drops Henderson to 1-2 and 7-8-2 overall.

The Driller Boys made the most of an early opportunity, putting together back-to-back-to-back hits from Tanner Beets, Tate Truman and Bullard for all three of their runs in the first inning. Beets and Truman set the table with singles into the outfield before Bullard brought his teammates home with a shot well over the left field fence.

It was the Kilgore first baseman’s second home run in as many games and fourth of the season. The three RBI give him a team-leading 20.

“This was a nice win for us,” said Kilgore coach Eugene Lafitte. “We got the early runs and made the most of them. We were hitting the ball hard and got some solid hits. It makes a difference with good pitching and good defense.”

The Bulldogs got both of those also against the Lions.

“We came out a little flat and just never got going,” said Henderson coach Jordan O’Bannon.

Hale went the distance on the mound for the Diamond Dogs, for his third win of the season. He allowed only a Macen Jones single through the right- side of the infield to lead off the second inning, and a two-out infield single by Kayne Brantley in the fifth. He walked three and Henderson stranded only three baserunners. Two of those, Jones reached third in the second inning and Brian Biggs reached second with two outs in the fifth.

“Kolton pounded the (strike)zone,” Lafitte continued, “and that’s what you need in a low-scoring, close ballgame.”

He threw 89 pitches, and faced the minimum (just three batters) in each of the first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Hale struck out three, retired nine Lion batters via the fly ball, and centerfielder Cade Henry made five of those catches for putouts.

Dashawn Jackson, last year’s district offensive MVP, started on the mound against Hale and went three innings. He allowed the three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking only one before being relieved by Caden Foster to start the fourth inning.

Foster, meanwhile, allowed only four hits in four innings. He struck out two and did not allow a walk. Kilgore left two runners in scoring position against the right-handed reliever.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday. The Lions host Spring Hill, while Kilgore entertains Carthage.

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Kilgore pitcher Kolton Hale (foreground) and teammate Tate Truman come off the field after the final out against Henderson on Saturday, a 3-0 KHS win. Hale celebrates with a fist-pump, after getting the complete-game win. (Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – ETBLITZ.COM)