The closer we get to the end of basketball season – and the beginning of conference play for baseball and softball – he hotter things are getting around the Angelina College campus.
AC’s basketball teams have just three games remaining on the regular-season schedule, with the teams celebrating Sophomore Day during this Saturday’s home doubleheader against Coastal Bend Community College.
The ‘Runner baseball team opens conference play this Wednesday, and the AC softball team gets a taste of league competition starting on Wednesday.
Following is the week’s recap along with a list of upcoming events.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Stays Tied for First Place
The Lady Roadrunners bounced back from a tough home loss on Wednesday to take a crucial win at Tyler Junior College on Saturday.
Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium, AC’s ladies fought but fell short in an 80-75 loss to Blinn College despite a 27-point effort from Marie Kenembeni and a 23-point night from Amyria Walker.
On Saturday, however, the Lady Roadrunners picked up a tough road win at Tyler Junior College, knocking off the Lady Apaches behind league scoring leader Walker, who tallied her season high with 36 points in the win. Kenembeni added 23 points and Jade Fry another nine in the win.
AC (18-9, 10-3) remain tied for first place in Region XIV’s conference standings with just three games remaining in the regular season. The Lady ‘Runners host Paris College on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) and Coastal Bend CC on Saturday (2 p.m.). Saturday’s pre-game ceremonies will include Sophomore Day festivities scheduled to start approximately 15 minutes before game time.
Roadrunner Basketball Takes Two Key Conference Games
The Roadrunner men aren’t about to relinquish their place in the conference standings, taking two big games this week to maintain their hold on third place in Region XIV’s South Zone.
AC beat a tough Jacksonville College team on Tuesday in Jacksonville, with Daniel Sanchez coming off the bench to lead the ‘Runners with 17 points. Xavier Owens added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Nehikare Igiehon pitched in with 10 points and nine boards.
Saturday at Shands Gymnasium, the Roadrunners handled Lamar State College-Port Arthur, beating the Seahawks 89-75 thanks to a balanced scoring attack.
AC got 14 points from Aaron Carter, 13 points each from Owens and Igiehon and another 11 points from Eddie Evans.
With those two wins, the Roadrunners (18-9, 9-7) kept their hold on the third-place spot in the South Zone standings.
The ‘Runners will play at Blinn College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday before closing out their home schedule on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Coastal Bend Community College. Saturday’s pre-game ceremonies will include Sophomore Day festivities scheduled to start approximately 15 minutes before game time.
Roadrunner Baseball Wins Three of Four This Week
The Roadrunner baseball team offered attending fans a thrill on Wednesday, with AC’s Michael Herndon blasting a two-out, two-run, walk-off homer in the ‘Runners’ 5-3 win over Alvin College in the opener of the doubleheader. Alvin would take Game 2 by a 10-9 final despite homers from Christian Letendre and Taz Pate.
Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Dallas College-Eastfield (by scores of 15-4 and 8-3) featured homers from Hayden Hupe and Sean Bazmore in the opener and Bazmore’s three RBI in the nightcap.
The Roadrunners (6-11) open conference play Wednesday at Navarro College in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in Corsicana. AC then hosts conference foe Panola College in a Saturday twin bill starting at 1 p.m.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Drops Four Games on the Road
AC’s Lady Roadrunners are fighting through a grueling road stretch to finish off February, dropping a pair of games at Paris College (11-5, 7-1) on Wednesday and two games at Grayson College (12-3, 8-4) in Denison on Saturday.
The Lady ‘Runners (7-16) host Navarro College on Wednesday in a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m. AC closes out the week on Saturday with two games at Tyler Junior College. Those games also start at 1 p.m.
Legends Visit Shands Gymnasium
AC LEGENDS: R. L. Lehman helped recruit ’em, Guy Davis coached ’em, and the guys themselves helped hang one of the very first banners in the rafters celebrating an AC basketball achievement. Some of those legends gathered to reminisce during Sunday’s Roadrunner basketball game at Shands Gymnasium. Pictured are (L-R) Chris Hagan, R.L. Lehman, Barnard Pierce and Rodney Darden.
Reading Day at Herty Elementary:
The Roadrunner men’s basketball team continued its focus on contributing to the community with a “Reading Day” this past week at Herty Elementary. Players spent time sharing their favorite children’s books with some of the students present.
UPCOMING EVENTS OF NOTE:
Women’s/Men’s Basketball Sophomore Day: Saturday, March 2. AC teams hosting Coastal Bend CC in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Sophomore Day festivities will take place before each game.
Tyler Rayburn Baseball Tribute: Tyler Rayburn was a key (and very popular) part of the Angelina College baseball team for a couple of years. Sadly, we lost Tyler when he passed away in 2023, but the Roadrunner baseball program plans to honor his memory with a tribute tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at Poland Field. The Roadrunners host TCS Post Grad in a doubleheader that day, so the ceremony (including a ceremonial first pitch) will take place before the first game, currently scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
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.
Region XIV Basketball Conference Tournament Information
This year’s Region XIV Basketball Conference Tournament will take place from March 12-16 at Tyler Junior College’s Wagstaff Gymnasium in Tyler. The tourney opens on Tuesday, March 12 with the men’s first round starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 features the women’s opening round, also starting at 1 p.m.; Thursday is the men’s quarterfinals round; Friday is the men’s and women’s semifinal round; and Saturday marks the championship games for both women (4 p.m.) and men (7 p.m.). Tournament winner earns an automatic bid to its sport’s respective national tournament (Casper, WY for the women and Hutchinson, KS for the men), and tourney runners-up are virtually guaranteed an at-large bid.
Tyler JC has ticket information available at www.apacheathletics.com/tickets.
Full brackets won’t be available until after the final regular-season games on Wednesday, March 6.
Roadrunner Soccer ID (Tryout) Camp:
Fresh off their second consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer National Tournament, the newest version of Angelina College men’s soccer is looking for some future Roadrunners.
AC Soccer will host an ID (tryout) camp from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 at the soccer field in the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the Angelina College campus.
For further information, click the following link:
Point of contact: Head men’s coach Martin Melchor (mmelchor@angelina.edu)
This Week’s Schedule (NOTE: Baseball and softball subject to change with pending inclement weather):
Roadrunner Baseball:
Wednesday, Feb. 28: AC at Navarro College (conference opener), DH starting at 12 p.m. in Corsicana, TX.
Saturday, March 2: AC vs. Panola College, DH starting at 1 p.m., Poland Field on the AC campus.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball:
Wed., Feb. 28: AC vs. Paris College, 6:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
Sat., March 2: AC vs. Coastal Bend CC, 2 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium (Sophomore Day).
Roadrunner Basketball:
Wednesday, Feb. 28: AC at Blinn College, 7 p.m. in Brenham, TX.
Saturday, March 2: AC vs. Coastal Bend CC, 4 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
Lady Roadrunner Softball:
Wednesday, Feb. 28: AC vs. Navarro College, DH starting at 1 p.m. at Lady Roadrunner Field.
Saturday, March 2: AC at Tyler JC, DH starting at 1 p.m. in Tyler, TX.
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
