‘DOGS RUN-RULE CENTER | Get back on track after two-game skid; at Center Thursday

Kolton Hale and Tanner Beets combined on a three-hitter and Colt Bullard cracked his fifth home run of the season as Kilgore run-ruled Center, 13-3, in six innings on Tuesday night at historic Driller Park.

It was definitely a good way for the Diamond ‘Dogs to open the second half of the District 17-4A race, after suffering back-to-back shutout losses to Carthage and Spring Hill.

The Roughriders and Bulldogs will meet on Thursday evening in Center with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m., since Friday is a holiday (Good Friday).

Hale started and worked five-plus innings, collecting his fourth (4-1) win of the season on the mound. He did not allow a hit, recording seven strikeouts, but  did walk six and hit a couple of batters.

The sophomore right-hander threw 90 pitches, hitting T.J. Bellin to start the sixth inning and then walking Logan Horton on a full count before coach Eugene Lafitte opted to bring second baseman Tanner Beets on in relief.

Beets got the final three outs, but the Roughriders managed to score three runs on a throwing error by the Bulldogs, and hits by Sutton Link, Gage Vidrine and Easton Wulf. Link and Wulf were credited with RBI, scoring Cody Atkinson and Gage Vidrine, respectively.

Hale opened the contest, walking the first two batters Wulf and Jayden Lane. Joseph Hendrickson, the Kilgore catcher, picked Lane off first base. Hale fanned Belin for his first strikeout of the contest, and Logan Horton grounded out to Tate Truman at third.

Kilgore answered with four hits in the bottom of the first inning, including a bunt by Beets. The only hit out of the infield was a dying liner to short centerfield by Jordan Pierce.

The Diamond ‘Dogs added a run in the second, taking advantage of a leadoff walk to Cade Henry and a walk to Hale. Beets single to left center to score Henry with the second run of the game.

Kilgore added to its lead with four runs in the third inning, making the most of batting around with two hits, two errors and three passed balls. Hale helped himself with an RBI infield single to score Cade Cox and House’s groundout plated Cade Henry for the sixth run.

The Roughriders finally scratched for three runs on three hits and a Kilgore error in the top of the sixth inning.  Hale hit the Roughriders’ leadoff hitter T.J. Bellin, who came around and scored the visitors’ initial run of the evening on a throwing error.

Cody Atkinson, the first hitter reliever Beets faced, reached on a fielder’s choice, retiring Logan Horton at second base. He would score on Link’s single into the outfield, before Wulf plated the final run with a single.

Kilgore, though, answered with five runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth, getting RBI from House, Truman and Bullard, besides making the most of three wild pitches and an error by the Roughriders.

While Hale got the win, Horton – the Center starting pitcher – took the loss, allowing eight runs on 11 hits. He struck out one and walked four. Link pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on two hits. He struck out two and walked four.

The Driller Boys stranded 10 baserunners, five of those in scoring position. Meanwhile, Center left seven on, three in scoring position.