OVERTON’S HOLLEMAN | The Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Player of the Week!

Overton’s Rylan Holleman (right) hit a grand slam as a part of a 6-run fifth inning last week in game two against Gary. Overton won the game, forcing a third game between the two teams, and then won the series with a 3-1 game three win. Overton meets Beckville in a best-of-three at Longview High beginning Wednesday at 5, and Holleman was named the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Player of the Week last week for his heroics. (Photo by RONNIE SARTORS – SPORT SHOT PHOTOGRAPHY and ETBLITZ.COM)

Last week, Rylan Holleman got to live every kid’s dream, at least every kid that’s ever played baseball.

With his team trailing, needing something – anything – to give them a lift, a spark, and most importantly, a run to cross the plate, Holleman not only delivered, but did so in spectacular fashion.

Holleman hit a grand slam to put the Overton Mustangs in front of Gary in game two of the best-of-three playoff series at Hallsville High School. He did it late, in the fifth inning, and if Overton had lost the game, it would be Gary getting ready for a fourth-round series against Beckville right now.

It’s not. It’s Overton.

And that’s what being a Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Player of the Week is all about.

Rylan Holleman is the Whataburger / ETB Player of the Week for May 12-7.

It’s a repeat performance; Holleman won player of the week honors just a few weeks back, and here he is again, having helped lift Overton to the win in game two, 7-5. Without that win, the series is OVER – Gary had beaten Overton in game one, 2-1, and had the lead in game two. Overton had just one run.

Things changed with the big grand slam. Overton was down 5-1 headed into that fifth inning, but scored six runs in the fifth, got the lead and held it, a 7-5 final.

Mason Rowe, Brody Brown and Bryson Bobbitt all had hits in the game, and Holleman got the win on the mound: It got a little wild at times, because Gary fought hard. Holleman, though, threw seven innings, giving up five runs, all earned, on nine hits, walked four and struck out six.

And the Mustangs, after a four-day break, are back in action Wednesday afternoon at Longview High School, hosting Beckville (23-6).

Game one of the series is at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Game two follows, and if they need a game three to decide things, it’ll be Friday, back at Longview, at 5 o’clock.

Remember this for those who are going: Longview High takes debit or credit cards only, no cash, at the gate, and there are no pre-sale opportunities. Tickets are $7 each for adults, and $5 each for students.

To add confusion, concessions are the opposite: they’re cash only.

Yes, we are serious.

Rylan isn’t joined by any one else this week, because girls sports locally are over.

Now soon, for the summer, ETBlitz.com will present – in place of the players of the week awards – our Whataburger / ETBlitz Personality Profile throughout the summer. Get to know local athletes on and off the field, or the court, as we head to the 2025-26 school year.

In case you’d like to look back on all the winners for the awards this year, here you are:

Whataburger, the world’s best burgers and more, sponsors these awards, and have since shortly after ETBlitz.com launched in October, 2023. There’s nothing like a burger or cheeseburger from Whataburger to fill you up, but they have such a large menu; check it out here, Whataburger | Order Online with Curbside and Delivery, and order ahead of time. Also, if you do that using the app, you can earn points for free items.

We look forward to seeing what Holleman and all of the Overton High School Mustangs do this week, and good luck, guys, against Beckville. Congratulations again, Rylan Holleman, the Whataburger / ETB Player of the Week for May 12-17!

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