GILMER’S RUCKER, KILGORE’S BEETS | They’re the Whataburger / ETB Players of the Week!

Sometimes in sports, you’ve got to have a short memory.

On Tuesday night, Kilgore dropped a 7-5 decision at home, at Driller Park, to archrival Henderson, the Diamond ‘Dogs’ first loss in weeks, since they were in the Jasper Tournament.

Friday, though, Kilgore bounced back, beating Henderson 2-0, and one of the biggest reasons why was a fantastic performance on the mound by Tanner Beets, leading the Bulldogs’ defensive effort with a complete-game shut-out.

And Gilmer’s Jayna Rucker? She picked an excellent time to pull out a huge bat.

Rucker and Beets are our choices as the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Players of the Week for March 17-22!

Now, you might have read a little bit already about what Rucker and her teammates did last week, as they were named the Goudarzi & Young, LLP / ETBlitz.com Team of the Week for the same time frame (IT’S GILMER SOFTBALL! | They’re the Goudarzi & Young / ETBlitz.com Team of the Week!).

But you can’t discount a player on the team of the week from winning a player of the week award – that’d be crazy!

**Gilmer’s Jayna Rucker. (Photo courtesy of GILMER BUCKEYE SOFTBALL FACEBOOK)**

Rucker and her Lady Buckeyes were unbeaten in District 16-4A softball going into their home game against Henderson last Tuesday, March 18, and Rucker helped that cause tremendously, smacking a home run against the Lady Lions, finishing with the homer and 2 RBI in a 2-0 win.

Gilmer was able to overcome another strong performance by Henderson pitcher Chloe Ellis, one of East Texas’ best pitchers, in claiming that win.

And then on Friday, Rucker did her stuff again, this time hitting TWO home runs against Pine Tree and finishing with 3 RBI, as the Lady Buckeyes came back from a 3-1 deficit late in the game to keep their district record with a “zero” in the loss column.

By the end of the night, Gilmer had a nine-game winning streak and is 5-0 in district play (since then, they’re 6-0; they beat Kilgore in Kilgore Tuesday night).

And Beets – he and the Bulldogs had a near-miss last Tuesday, then an emotional win on Friday.

Beets, playing second base, had a single and an RBI on Tuesday in the loss; he also reached when he was hit by a pitch.

Friday, Beets struck out once, walked once, and scored a run in three at-bats.

But it was what he did on the mound that earned him this honor.

It’s been rare this year that a Kilgore pitcher has had a complete game. But Beets did it, and in the process, he didn’t allow a single run, not one.

Beets allowed six hits and walked three, but he went seven innings and didn’t let a single Henderson Lion cross the plate.

Kilgore’s defense, to be fair, helped out, as well: the Diamond ‘Dogs’ defense was lights-out, with no errors.

The Bulldogs scored both of the game’s runs in the top of the fifth. Beets reached when he grounded into a fielder’s choice. Kolton Hale doubled to center field, and Beets came around to score; then Hale scored on a single to right by Joseph Hendrickson (2-0).

Beets and Rucker, now, join a growing list of outstanding performances this season:

Whataburger sponsors our awards each week, and we’re so glad of that – because the ETBlitz.com crew spends SO much time there!

We all have our favorites – the original Whataburger, the double Whata, the Whatawings, the original sausage biscuit, the patty melt, and the new Monterey Melt. The best thing about Whataburger is their food. But there are so many other great things about the franchise, from the huge menu, the fact that it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; breakfast available 12 hours a day; you just can’t beat it.

Check out their website ahead of time, before you go, and order here Whataburger | Order Online with Curbside and Delivery, or look at their app, where you can build up points for free items.

And don’t forget: Kilgore’s Whataburger location will host a reception for Kilgore High School standout Jayden Sanders on Friday at 5 p.m. in honor of his selection as a member of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s 2024 Whataburger Super Team! (SANDERS HONORED FRIDAY! | Kilgore’s Jayden Sanders to be honored at Whataburger Friday at 5 p.m.!)

Congratulations again to Gilmer’s Jayna Rucker and to Kilgore’s Tanner Beets, the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Players of the Week!

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