PLAY BALL! | Whataburger Oil Belt Classic returns to Driller Park Thursday through Saturday
Baseball season is already here — it began officially a little more than a week ago, when scrimmages were replaced with actual games that count — and nothing says baseball is back like the Whataburger Oil Belt Classic.
Played entirely at Driller Park in Kilgore once again this year, the Kilgore High School Bulldogs — we call ’em the Diamond ‘Dogs around here — are the hosts, of course, and it’s the 61st annual playing of the event. Whataburger, who we are proud to say is also an advertising partner of ETBlitz.com, is once again back as lead sponsor.
Joining Kilgore in this year’s Whataburger Oil Belt Classic are Huntington (5-0), Central Heights (3-1), Redwater (3-1), Pittsburg (3-2), Kirbyville (2-4), Shelbyville (2-1), and Harmony (1-4). Only Kilgore and Pittsburg are in Class 4A; CHHS, Redwater, Harmony, Kirbyville and Huntington are all 3A, and Shelbyville is Class 2A.
One of the best features, of course, about the Oil Belt each year is wall-to-wall baseball for three days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Thursday’s schedule:
9 a.m.: Kilgore vs. Central Heights
11 a.m.: Redwater vs. Central Heights
1 p.m.: Redwater vs. Harmony
3 p.m.: Shelbyville vs. Harmony
5 p.m.: Huntington vs. Pittsburg
7 p.m.: Kilgore vs. Pittsburg
Friday’s schedule:
9 a.m.: Kilgore vs. Huntington
11 a.m.: Harmony vs. Huntington
1 p.m.: Redwater vs. Pittsburg
3 p.m.: Central Heights vs. Shelbyville
5 p.m.: Kirbyville vs. Pittsburg
7 p.m.: Kirbyville vs. Shellbyville
Saturday’s schedule:
9 a.m.: Central Heights vs. Harmony
11 a.m.: Huntington vs. Kirbyville
1 p.m.: Kilgore vs. Kirbyville
3 p.m.: Redwater vs. Shelbyville
Kilgore is 1-4, with a win over Dallas Pinkston, a 10-0 run-rule win, and losses to Hallsville (11-7, in the season opener), Liberty-Eylau (9-1), Melissa (6-1) and Texas High (6-0).
Kolton Hale, Brodey Benson and Carson Edney all return for their senior season, which doesn’t seem possible — it seems like their freshman year was five minutes ago. Both will pitch and play infield, and both were first-team all-district selections a year ago. Benson has had to deal with a few injuries but still figures to play a major role this season.
Also back are pitcher Rafello Adamez (a junior, honorable mention all-district a year ago), seniors Brayden Williams and Kayson Brooks (both second-team all-district players last year), and a sophomore, Miles Applegate, who will see time on the mound and as a catcher. Applegate won the district’s newcomer of the year award in 2025.
Kilgore went 12-19-1 a year ago, finished fourth place in District 16-4A and got into the playoffs, losing in round one.
The district includes defending 4A, Division I state champ Spring Hill, of course, and the Panthers are currently 3-1-1. The surprise of the young season so far is Gilmer, whose Buckeyes are 5-0 right now.
Also in the district, Cumberland Academy (Tyler) is 2-1; Carthage is 3-2; Chapel Hill is 1-3; Henderson is 2-3; and the Pine Tree Pirates are 1-3-1.
Henderson, Carthage and Pine Tree are all in the ETBlitz.com coverage area, but aren’t in the Whataburger Oil Belt Classic; we’ll have more on them in another story tomorrow.
Also proudly sponsoring the tournament this year are A&B Aesthetics, Alan and Meggan Clark, Allen Bryson, Charles and Lauren Clark, David and Maureen Lemming, Geonix, Hydessco, Kilgore Quick Care, Kilgore Tire Center, Magen Edmonson Realtor, Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano, McKinney Measurement / Panther, Mosby Mechanical, Prime Time Irrigation, RLM General Contractors, Sherwin Williams, Sherwood Wealth Partners, Silvertooth Family Dental, Southern Lifting & Hoisting, Southern Supply, Smith Plumbing, Storer Services, and VeraBank.
