WAKE UP! on ETBLITZ.COM | Baseball playoffs resume Thursday; 7-on-7 teams converge on Kilgore Saturday; three Buckeyes on to the next level

Good morning to everyone in the ETBlitz.com coverage area, and to all effectively using your time today! 😊 We’re here to help you get the day started, let you know what’s coming this week in the 12 high schools in our coverage area, as well as Kilgore College. We’re presenting Wake Up! each day courtesy of Cozy Coffee Station, which you will LOVE upon your first visit. Go by and grab a great drink (coffee, tea, soda, milk shakes and just about anything else) at their store in Gilmer, at 755 Highway 271, or at Kilgore at 110 Midtown Plaza.

Before you go by Cozy Coffee Station, look at what they have to order, and check them out on social media: their website is Home | Cozy Coffee Station.

High school baseball playoffs

The high school baseball playoffs resume tomorrow, and we’ll have a preview of the games involving the three teams left from the ETBlitz.com coverage area – Henderson, Tatum and Overton – later today, possibly early Thursday morning.

Here is, once again, who those teams are facing, and where these series will be, all the details you need to know.

UIL CLASS 4A, DIVISION I AREA (SECOND ROUND) PLAYOFFS

Henderson (18-12) vs. Pleasant Grove (28-4): This series will be played at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Game one is Thursday at 7 p.m. Game two is Friday at 6, and if a third game is necessary, it’ll be Friday night after game two. The winner advances to the regional semifinals to meet either Alvarado (16-9) or Panther Creek (17-9-4).

UIL CLASS 3A, DIVISION I AREA (SECOND-ROUND) PLAYOFFS

Tatum (21-9) vs Pleasant Grove (27-4).  A best-of-three set to begin Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Panola College in Carthage. Game two is Friday at 7 p.m. at Pleasant Grove High. And if game three is needed, it’ll be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Winnsboro.

The winner of the series between the Eagles and L-E will meet Whitesboro (13-12) or Pottsboro (18-7-1).

UIL CLASS 2A, DIVISION II

Overton (23-6) vs. James Bowie (20-16). Overton faces James Bowie (20-6) in round two.

The original plan had these two meeting for game one at Tatum, but that’s been dropped.

Instead, it’ll be played Thursday night at Bullard, at 5:30 p.m.

Game two is in Atlanta, Friday afternoon at 5. Overton is the visiting team for that one. Game three, if necessary, will be 30 minutes after game two.

The Overton-Bowie winner faces either Lovelady (19-10-1) or Gary (14-7) in the regional semifinals.

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7-ON-7 in Kilgore Saturday

Kilgore’s R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium is the site this Saturday for a 7-on-7 state qualifying tournament.

The winner goes to the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament the week of June 26-28.

This isn’t the only qualifier; just the first one. Joining Kilgore in the event will be Sabine, Jefferson, Lindale, Palestine, Chapel Hill, Pleasant Grove, and Van Alstyne. Concessions will be open, for those who are in it for the long-term.

Here’s our story on 7-on-7 from yesterday, with far more details, the rules of 7-on-7, and much, much more: IT’S BACK! | Kilgore hosts 7-on-7 state qualifier on Saturday.

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Gilmer has three signings; more signings today

Gilmer High School had three seniors recently to announce their plans after high school.

All three are and have been involved in Ag and Rodeo at Gilmer High.

In the photo below, from left: Trenton Nugent has signed with East Texas A&M; Avery Turner is headed to West Texas A&M; and Colton Mullins with Blinn College. The photo courtesy of GHS Athletics.

Speaking of signings, a host of athletes will sign letters of intent to continue their extracurricular activities and college education at both Sabine and Henderson today.

Sabine has a signing ceremony scheduled for 9:30 a.m.; Henderson’s will be at 5 p.m.

Arp special quilt giveaway Friday

There is still a little time left for Arp High School fans to register to win a Tiger-themed quilt this Friday.

The quilt is currently on display at Arp State Bank.

There will be a live drawing for the quilt on the Arp Elementary School Facebook page on Friday at 3. Tickets are $5 each, and can be purchased at either Arp Elementary or Arp State Bank.

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Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame induction ceremony May 23

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame will have new inductees – eight of them, to be specific – on Friday, May 23, as the hall’s class of 2025 will be inducted.

This will happen at the Miller LiteHouse (West Plaza) at AT&T Stadium on Friday, May 23, beginning at 9 a.m.

Being inducted, in alphabetical order, are former Notre Dame fullback Jerome Bettis; Texas linebacker Randy Braband; former Ole Miss and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe (who coached both Peyton and Eli Manning: Peyton as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee, and Eli when Cutcliffe was head coach at Ole Miss); Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Chief Ambassador Fin Ewing III, also past chair, a former team selection and playoff committee; Cotton Bowl Athletic Association historian Charlie Fiss; Auburn running back Bo Jackson, and Alabama linebacker (and current Houston Texans head coach) DeMeco Ryans.

The event is open to the public, beginning around 11:30 a.m.

Anyone who can’t go but would like to watch may do so here: youtube.com/cottonbowlclassic. The live stream will begin at approximately 11:55 a.m. Central time.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: This, spotted on Facebook: “Good morning to everyone – except people who eat unfrosted Pop Tarts.”