A BUSY FEW DAYS | Softball playoffs continue; baseball playoffs begin, and here’s the lowdown on all the series
It’s a busy week in a lot of ways for high school sports, as we’re hitting the home stretch, with the 2024-25 school year winding down.
We’ll still see champions crowned, though, at the state track meet in Austin that began today, and in both baseball and softball.
Here’s the schedule for the athletes from programs in the ETBlitz.com area that are competing in the UIL State Track & Field Championships, at the University of Texas in Austin. It’s 3A and 4A athletes today, 2A, 5A and wheelchair division on Friday, and 1A and 6A Saturday: STATE TRACK MEET STARTS TODAY | 3A & 4A events today, 2A tomorrow; here’s a complete schedule in time order of when locals compete.
Now, softball teams from Henderson, Gilmer and Troup are all still driving the playoff car.
SOFTBALL
Henderson
It’s round two of the UIL Class 4A, Division I playoffs, and coach John White’s Lady Lions (30-8-1), who swept Van in round one, will face Nevada Community (14-4-1), who knocked Pleasant Grove from the playoffs last weekend.
It’ll be a best-of-three-game series, played in its entirety at Athens High School, beginning tonight at 6:30 p.m. Henderson is the home team for game one.
Friday night, game two will begin at 6 p.m., and if they need game three, it’ll follow very shortly after game two ends.
Lady Lion Chloe Ellis was our Whataburger / ETBlitz.com girls Player of the Week for last week (HENDERSON’S ELLIS AND FREEMAN | The Whataburger / ETB Players of the Week!!).
Gilmer
Also in the 4A-Division playoffs are the District 16-4A champion Gilmer Lady Buckeyes.
Gilmer (23-4-2), who swept Lindale last weekend, now faces Sulphur Springs (26-7) in the area / second round.
The series will be a best-of-three, played at Mount Pleasant. Game one will be tonight at 6 p.m. Game two is Friday at 5:30, and if game three is necessary, it’ll be right after game two.
Troup
The Lady Tigers (27-5), who swept Edgewood out of the Class 3A, Division II playoffs in the bi-district round, meets DeKalb (28-4) in round two.
They’ll play that series at Longview High School, and it starts tonight. Troup is asking its fans to wear black for a Tiger Blackout in game one, a 6 p.m. start.
Game two will be Friday, also at 6, and that night, Troup fans are asked to wear maroon (Maroon-out). And Saturday, if needed, there will be a third and deciding game at noon.
BASEBALL
Here is the schedule for each of the baseball playoff series involving teams from the ETB coverage area. And for anyone who’d like to read our more-extensive preview, here you go: WHERE Y’ALL AT?! | Baseball playoffs begin this week for eight teams in the ETB area; here’s a preview of every single one of ’em.
Kilgore
The Diamond’ Dogs (12-17) came on in District 16-4A play and made the UIL 4A-Division I playoffs. They meet Lindale (20-6-1) in the opening round, which begins tonight.
This series is home-and-home. Lindale was to host the first game, tonight 7 p.m., but that’s been changed due to weather expected Friday.
Game one will be at Driller Park tonight, at 7 p.m. Game two will be in Lindale at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and if a third game is necessary, it’ll follow game two.
Tickets are $5 each for adults, $3 each for students.
Henderson
Henderson, also in the 4A-DI playoffs, faces Mabank (13-13) in the first round, and it’s also a home-and-home, best-of-three-game series.
Game one is tonight, a 7 p.m. start, and it’s at Henderson. Game two is Saturday at Mabank, the first pitch at 4 p.m. And game three would follow game two, if a third game is necessary.
Henderson’s Coy Freeman was also honored as the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com boys Player of the Week.
Tatum
Tatum (19-8 overall) will meet Mineola (10-12) in the first round of the UIL Class 3A, Division I playoffs. That will be a best-of-three series, and it’ll be played at Brook Hill School.
Game one was to be Friday at 7 p.m., but the game has been moved up an hour to a 6 p.m. start because of expected weather. Game two is Saturday at noon, with a game three if it’s needed to be played shortly after game two.
Troup
Troup’s Tigers (20-7) are in the 3A-Division II playoffs, where they’ll face Grand Saline in round one.
That’ll take place in Athens, starting tonight at 7 p.m. Game two is Friday at 7, and game three will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, if it’s necessary.
West Rusk
Coach Ronnie Hendrix’s Raiders (12-13) will meet Edgewood (21-9), in a best-of-three series at Bullard High School.
West Rusk and Edgewood meet for game one tonight at 7 p.m. Game two is Friday at 6, and a game three would be moments after game two concludes, if it’s needed.
White Oak
The Roughnecks (17-8) defeated Gladewater last weekend for the final playoff spot in 16-3A. They’ll be in the UIL 3A-Division I playoffs, facing Malakoff (14-10) at Mike Carter Field in Tyler.
That series begins Friday night at 7 p.m. The series continues on Saturday at Carter Field at 2 p.m., and if game three is necessary, it’ll follow game two.
Overton
The Mustangs have a 22-6 record, having finished District 19-2A with a 12-2 mark. Overton faces LaPoynor (17-12) in the first round tonight, but instead of a best-of-three, it’s just a one-game, winner-take-all playoff in the UIL Class 2A, Division II playoffs.
It’ll be at Brook Hill School, and starts tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Leverett’s Chapel
The Lions are in the UIL Class 1A playoffs. LC (5-6-1)will meet Avalon (7-8-1) tonight in Edgewood, a 5:30 p.m. game one start, and game two will follow game one.
If game three is needed, it’ll be back in Edgewood on Friday at 5 p.m.