KILGORE SPLITS ON FRIDAY | Diamond ‘Dogs lose one, then win one; new Whataburger OBC schedule inside
By SHAWN CHRISTOPHER
Special to ETBLITZ.COM
There was some shuffling at the 60th annual Whataburger Oil Belt Classic on Friday, as the host-team Kilgore Bulldogs wound up playing twice, instead of the one game that had been originally scheduled.
As things turned out, Kilgore – instead of playing Pittsburg on Friday night – faced Collinsville mid-afternoon at Driller Park, and then faced Harmony in what turned out to be the second half of a doubleheader.
Game one against Collinsville, the defending state champion in 2A, didn’t turn out in Kilgore’s favor, an 8-1 loss.
But the Bulldogs beat Harmony, 7-4, as KHS evened its record in the Oil Belt. Kilgore is 2-2 after four games, with one left: a 9 a.m. first-pitch against Prestonwood, and that’s a rematch from night one on Thursday night (Prestonwood won that one, 6-0).
Collinsville would score twice in the first inning, twice in the second, and four in the third in a five-inning game (time limit). Collinsville had five hits: Caison Schater, the left fielder, had two, and 2 RBI, and also scored twice. Shortstop Paxton had one hit, but it was a double, and also had an RBI.
Peyton Davidson, the catcher, had a hit and an RBI, and second baseman Jaxon Spivey had a hit, as well.
For a second straight game, Kilgore had a hard time generating offense. The Diamond ‘Dogs had just one hit: center fielder Jaxon Dickey, in the third.
Jaxon Jenkins got the win on the mound for Collinsville, with just the one hit allowed and an unearned run; he walked none and notched five strikeouts.
Kilgore scored its run in the bottom of the third. With one out in the books already, Dickey singled, and was eventually caught at second when Tanner Beets hit into a fielder’s choice.
But Beets had some nice base-running. He went to second on a passed ball, went to third, and then scored on a passed ball during an at-bat by Kolton Hale.
Unfortunately, that would be it for the Bulldogs, as they’d plate no other runs.
The ‘Dogs did get some pitching work in against Collinsville – that’ll be important, as District 16-4A play begins Tuesday against Carthage.
Miles Applegate pitched an inning and allowed just two hits, but four runs, two of them earned. He walked three and struck out one.
Jackson Tucker Phillips went 1 2/3 innings on the mound, allowing two earned runs on two hits, walked two and struck out three.
Brayden Williams faced a couple of batters, allowing one hit, two runs (both earned), and a walk.
And Brodie Smith went 2 1/3 innings, allowing zeroes across the board (no hits, walks or runs), and struck out three.
So far in the tournament, coach Zach Hubbard – in his first year at Kilgore, but seventh as a head coach, coming over from Shelbyville – has thrown 10 different arms on the mound. Not bad.
In their second game on Friday against Harmony, the Bulldogs allowed three runs early to the Eagles, but then plated five of their own in the bottom of the first.
Kilgore would score twice more in the third, and the time limit ended things after the fourth inning.
Beets had two hits, going 2-of-3 with 3 RBI for the Diamond ‘Dogs. Joseph Hendrickson went 1-of-2 – the “one” was a home run – and had 2 RBI. Cason Edney, who got the win on the mound against Central Heights on Thursday, had a hit and scored a run. Phillips had a hit and an RBI, and scored twice.
Phillips, Beets, and Kason Henry each had a stolen base in the game, and Edney had two.
Beets went 3 1/3 innings on the mound, allowing one earned run on four hits; he walked three and struck out four. Brodey Benson allowed two hits, three runs (earned), walked three and had a strikeout.
Leithen Wilkerson took the loss for Harmony, allowing all seven runs – all earned – on five hits. He walked three and struck out two.
Again, the schedule is different from the original plan, and different, as well, from the one printed in the program.
On Saturday, Kilgore and Prestonwood will open the tournament at 9 a.m. Collinsville and Central Heights will follow at 11 a.m., and Mineola will play Harmony again at 1 p.m. to wrap things up.
And Kilgore, as mentioned, starts District 16-4A play on Tuesday, a 7 p.m. start at Driller against Carthage.