WAKE UP! SATURDAY EDITION | Whataburger OBC wraps up today; Kilgore, Carthage meet Tuesday in district opener
Spring officially begins on March 20, but it’s here, folks. Go by and see the Cozy Coffee Station in Kilgore (110 Midtown Plaza) or Gilmer (755 U.S. 271 North) and get your favorite COLD drink and cool off in these 80-degree temperatures in FEBRUARY. Check out their spring drink menu here: Cozy Coffee Station – Spring Menu. And see them across social media platforms. On Facebook, it’s Cozy Coffee Station-Gilmer and Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore, and on Instagram, @cozycoffeestation_Kilgore and @cozycoffeestation_Gilmer.
Sometimes, the ol’ Oil Belt Classic can be a cruel test, a barometer of where your team is headed into March.
The 61st annual Whataburger Oil Belt Classic has been that for the Kilgore Diamond ‘Dogs, who will wrap up the tournament today with their game against Kirbyville, a 1 p.m. start at historic Driller Park, where the event is always played, now in its entirety.
Here’s the complete tournament schedule for Saturday:
9 a.m.: Central Heights vs. Harmony
11 a.m.: Huntington vs. Kirbyville
1 p.m.: Kilgore vs. Kirbyville
3 p.m.: Redwater vs. Shelbyville
And this coming week, things get real for Kilgore and for another ETBlitz.com-area program, Carthage. The two play each other on Tuesday night in the District 16-4A opener for both teams. That’s a 7 p.m. first-pitch Tuesday night in Carthage.
But that’s Tuesday – coach Zach Hubbard’s Bulldogs are focused on Kirbyville today, hoping to even their Whataburger Oil Belt record to 2-2.
The Bulldogs lost to Huntington on Friday, 6-3.
The Red Devils blew open what had been a 2-1 Huntington lead into a 6-1 lead by scoring four in the fifth inning (6-1).
Kilgore offensively had five hits: Cason Edney had a double, and then Kayson Brooks, Kolton Hale, Kaeson Clayton, and Colt Barnhart each had a single. Hale, Jaxon Dickey and Barnhart each scored a run, and Brooks and Hale each had a stolen base in the game.
Brodey Benson took the loss, but didn’t throw badly at all – Benson only gave up two hits over three innings and didn’t walk a single soul. He allowed one earned run, and had a strikeout. Brody Smith pitched an inning and allowed two runs, both earned, on three hits and also had a strikeout. And Barnhart had two innings of work, allowing three runs, just one of them earned, on a hit and a walk allowed. He struck out two.
Brendan Fitzgerald got the complete-game win for Huntington; he threw six innings (shortened due to the tournament’s time limit), allowing three runs, one of them earned, on five hits, walked one and struck out four. The Red Devils had six hits, including a double by Isaac Sapp and a triple by Luke Green.
Kilgore is 2-6 on the season, as the district opener against Carthage looms Tuesday.
Carthage: Speaking of Carthage, the Bulldogs are 4-3 on the season, and dropped a 3-0 decision to Liberty on Friday in Carthage’s home tournament.
Carthage plays Lufkin Hudson today at 3 p.m. in its final tournament game.
The ‘Dawgs just couldn’t find offense in the loss to Liberty. They only had three hits: catcher Brooks Soape had a hit, and third baseman Joseph Mitchell had two, and all three of those were singles.
Braxton Ritter took the loss for Carthage: five innings pitched, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits – he walked three and struck out four. Teammate Andrew Gwinn came on in relief, and allowed one hit and a walk.
Cade Carter got the win for Liberty: five innings pitched, and he allowed no runs on three hits, three walks and struck out three. Mason Swonke also pitched: two innings, with no runs or hits allowed, and he gave up a walk and had a strikeout. Liberty had six hits, including a 2-for-3 day by center fielder Chris Herbert. Carter and Jonathon Wilkerson each had a triple, and Grahm Pavliska had a double.
More on the remaining ETBlitz.com-area baseball programs in our Sunday update.
