An Angelina College coaching legend has stepped down, and the Roadrunner baseball and Lady Roadrunner softball teams took on some tough conference competition in another busy week at AC Athletics.
Here’s a recap of the week, along with a list of upcoming events.
Coleman Steps Down
Citing a desire to spend more time with family, long-time Lady Roadrunner head basketball coach Byron Coleman this past week announced he’s stepping down from the coaching ranks to become a full-time faculty member at AC.
Coleman leaves as the winningest coach in the women’s program history, compiling 326 wins in his 19 years as the head guy. Under his guidance, Lady Roadrunners teams never missed out on qualifying for the conference tournament.
Coleman was responsible for several “firsts” in program history. In 2019, his Lady ‘Runner team qualified for the national tournament, the first-ever AC women’s program to do so.
Coleman earned Coach of the Year honors following that year in which the team shattered the program record for wins in a season with 29.
To commemorate this milestone, AC is hosting a special celebration from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in our Technology and Workforce building, room 139.
To read the full story on Coleman’s announcement and his remarkable career, click the following link on the Angelina College Athletics website:
https://angelina.prestosports.com/general/2023-24/releases/byroncolemanresignation2024
Baseball Falls to First-Place Navarro College in Three-Game Series
The Roadrunners lost a walk-off heartbreaker to first-place Navarro College Wednesday in Corsicana. AC battled back to tie the game with a two-out rally in the ninth, only to see the Bulldogs take the 9-8 win on an RBI, game-winning single in the bottom of the frame.
Christian Letendre finished with a homer and a pair of RBI; Hayden Hupe and Mark Henderson each drove in two runs in the loss.
Navarro then swept the Roadrunners 18-8 and 15-4 Friday at Poland Field.
AC (13-22, 4-11) will play Panola College in a three-game series this week. Game 1 takes place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Poland Field, and the series wraps up with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in Carthage.
Softball Splits Conference Games
AC’s ladies swept Coastal Bend Community College on the road on Wednesday, taking wins of 6-4 and 9-0 (five innings) in Beeville. Crazy stat: The Lady Roadrunners logged 64 official at-bats in the doubleheader and struck out just twice in the two games.
In the opener against CBCC, Avery Pemberton drove in three runs, followed by Brianna Collazo with two RBI and Riley Davila with one run driven in. Pitchers Paige Castillo and Sandra Quiroz-Catalan teamed up for the win in the circle, with each allowing three hits and a pair of earned runs.
In the 9-0 in the nightcap, Lorelei Graham drove in two runs and Makenzi Johnson one as the Lady ‘Runners used Quiroz-Catalan’s shutout pitching to earn the win.
On Friday, AC fell 5-2 and 6-5 to league-leading San Jacinto.
AC will host Galveston College starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday before traveling to San Jacinto College for a Friday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
The Lady Roadrunners (13-29, 3-5) will host Galveston College in a Wednesday doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. AC then will travel to Houston on Friday for a twin bill against San Jacinto starting at 1 p.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS OF NOTE:
Roadrunner Basketball Tryout Session:
The Roadrunner men’s basketball team will host a tryout session starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at Shands Gymnasium.
The cost for the session is $50.
For registration and other information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/angelina-college-mens-basketball-tryout-tickets-866712429207.
Softball National Champions 10-Year Reunion: Yes, 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Angelina College’s only national title: The Lady Roadrunner Softball team’s 2014 national championship. Current plans include hosting a reunion ceremony tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 20, when the Lady Roadrunner softball team will host Blinn College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. We’ll issue more information once we’ve solidified all the plans.
This Week’s Schedule (NOTE: Baseball and softball subject to change with pending inclement weather):
Roadrunner Baseball:
Wednesday, April 3: AC vs. Panola College, single 9-inning game starting at 3 p.m. at Poland Field on the AC campus.
Saturday, April 6: AC at Panola College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Carthage.
Lady Roadrunner Softball:
Wed., April 3: AC vs. Galveston College, DH starting at 1 p.m. at Lady Roadrunner Field on the AC campus.
Fri., April 5: AC at San Jacinto College, DH starting at 1 p.m. in Houston.
For up-to-date information on any potential schedule changes, AC fans can visit the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com) or follow on social media (@ACAthletics on X/Twitter, or Angelina College Athletics Facebook page.)
For any other information, contact Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
We’ll see you at the games.
Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614
