WHATABURGER OIL BELT WRAPS UP | Diamond ‘Dogs have district opener at home vs. Carthage this week
(Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – ETBLITZ.COM)
A rebooted Whataburger Oil Belt Classic schedule saw Kilgore get a rematch with Prestonwood Christian on Saturday, the final day of the 60th annual tournament, which allows Kilgore High School to welcome many of the best programs not just in East Texas, but in the state.
Kilgore went 2-3 in the tournament over two days, wrapping up the event with a 6-1 loss to Prestonwood on Saturday morning.
Coach Zach Hubbard’s Diamond ‘Dogs (2-8 on the season) are, in effect, now 0-0 – the District 16-4A schedule begins with a home game at Driller Park against Carthage on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Inclement weather has been forecasted for Tuesday, but for now, the game is slated for that same date and time.
Against Prestonwood Saturday, Kilgore scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth. Joseph Hendrickson hit a one-out triple into right field, then gave way to Kaeson Clayton, a courtesy runner.
Clayton didn’t have to wait long. Miles Applegate was up next, and hit an RBI double that let Clayton cross the plate, a 4-1 Prestonwood lead.
They’d score two more runs in the top of the sixth for what would be the final score.
The Bulldogs had three hits in the game: the triple by Hendrickson, the double by Applegate, and then a single by Kason Henry.
C.J. LeBouef got the win on the mound for the Lions. He threw all six innings, striking out nine, walking one, and allowing the one earned run. He gave up the three hits, of course.
Jaxon Warner and Salvador Cervantes threw for Kilgore. Each pitched three innings. Cervantes struck out three, walked three, and allowed three hits and four runs, all earned.
Warner struck out three, as well, allowed two runs, both earned, walked two and allowed four hits.
Jack and Susan Moore and DKT Investments / Whataburger was the flagship sponsor once again of this year’s Oil Belt Classic. Other sponsors of the tournament were 5 Star Performance, ABA Aesthetics, Allen Bryson, Citizens Bank, Storer Services, Geonix LP, Kilgore Quick Care, Kilgore Tire Center, Magen Edmonson Realtor, McKinney Measurement, Mosby Mechanical, National Wholesale Supply, Pine Tar Sports, Sherwin Williams, Sherwood Wealth Partners, Silvertooth Family Dental, Southern Supply and Verabank.
Hospitality room sponsors were Walmart, Whataburger, Chick-Fil-A, Chili’s, Burrito Shop, Brookshires, The Back Porch and Peddlers Pizza.
