Hey, sports fans,
This week saw our men’s basketball team enter the NJCAA Division I rankings for the first time this season, and on Saturday we saw our basketball and baseball teams summon four wins in four games – with baseball notching a pair of walk-off wins just to add to the excitement.
Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
No. 19 Roadrunners Enter Rankings, Take Down Navarro College
The big snowstorm affecting our neighbors down south of the Pineywoods caused one cancellation, but the red-hot Roadrunners celebrated their recent entry into the Top 20 with a home win over a big rival on Saturday.
Tuesday’s NJCAA Division polls greeted the Roadrunners with a No. 19 ranking, and after Wednesday’s scheduled game at Lamar State College-Port Arthur was postponed because of weather, AC’s men hosted Navarro College (where current AC assistant coach Eric Colbert once roamed the sidelines) at Shands Gymnasium on Saturday.
The ‘Runners continued to do what they’ve been doing, putting together the nation’s best defense with an opportunistic offense to beat the Bulldogs by a 73-60 final.
AC’s Jordan Mathews led all scorers with 21 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Chris Carpenter and Christian Jones chipped in with 11 points each and Kanaan Holder added another 10 points.
The Roadrunners (16-2, 9-1) will hit the road for a big game against No. 9 Panola College Wednesday in Carthage. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, AC returns home to host Paris Junior College at 4 p.m.
Lady Roadrunners Split Week’s Conference Games, Beat Paris on Saturday
After dropping a road game in Kilgore on Wednesday, the Lady ‘Runners bounced back with a big win over Paris Junior College at home on Saturday, holding off the Lady Dragons by a 57-51 final at Shands Gymnasium.
India McMahon’s huge day included a 20-point, 13-rebound effort. Lanaijha Johnson scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds and Alecia Rivera-Scott finished with nine points and five assists.
The Lady ‘Runners (9-9, 2-3) will play in Carthage on Wednesday against Panola College, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
AC’s ladies then return home on Saturday for a showdown with No. 15 Trinity Valley Community College starting at 2 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
Baseball Opens Season with a Bang, Sweeps Galveston on Pair of Walk-Offs
What a way to open a new season.
The Roadrunner baseball team hosted Galveston College on Saturday in the season opener for both teams, and the ‘Runners cranked the volume knob on the excitement level early.
Leadoff hitter Connor Ficarra’s first at-bat in Game 1 was a deep drive to centerfield ending in a spectacular catch from Galveston’s centerfielder.
In the bottom of the seventh inning and the score even at 2-2, however, Ficarra made sure no one was going to catch his shot.
Ficarra launched a solo homer over the right-field wall to give the Roadrunners the walk-off win in AC’s first game of the year.
The Roadrunners weren’t finished.
In Game 2’s extra-inning affair, the Whitecaps took a 7-6 lead in the top of the 9th, only to see AC’s Diesel Gonzalez rip a bases-loaded, game-ending single off the wall for yet another walk-off win to celebrate Opening Day.
In the early win, AC’s Ryan Lewis drove in two runs, with Ficarra adding the other. Starting pitcher Ethan Jezierski struck out six hitters in three innings, and David Wilson earned the win in relief with his three-inning, four K performance.
In the nightcap, Ryan Beaty drove in three runs, while Landon Bailey added two more. Gonzalez, Ashton Wagner (3-for-5 at the plate) and Cooper Molnes added an RBI each.
AC’s Sam Nitzke got the start, striking out seven ‘Caps in four innings. Ashton Martinez followed with two scoreless innings, Josh Munoz tossed an inning of relief and Colby Turner picked up the win after throwing two innings and allowing a single unearned run.
The Roadrunners (2-0) are scheduled to play doubleheader at Wharton College on Thursday, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. AC then will host those same Pioneers in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Hoping to Start This Week
First, the weather wiped out the Lady Roadrunner softball team’s Prospect Camp scheduled for this past Sunday (now rescheduled for March).
Then came word the scheduled home/season opener against Cisco College set for this Wednesday also has been canceled.
The Lady ‘Runners are so ready to get going, they held an intrasquad game on Saturday just so they could feel some sort of competition.
After all the shuffling, AC’s ladies are hoping to get the 2025 season underway this week, when they’re schedule to participate in the Mardi Gras Invitation in Youngsville, Louisiana on Friday and Saturday.
AC will face Northwest Florida CC at 3:30 p.m. and Hinds College at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. The Lady ‘Runners on Saturday will take on Bishop CC at 12:30 p.m. and Meridian CC at 3 p.m.
The home opener now is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5 against Tyler Junior College. That doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. at the Lady Roadrunner Softball Field on the AC campus.
Soccer Teams Hosting ID Camps in March
Both Angelina College soccer teams will be hosting ID camps in March as the programs continue to identify new talent.
The Roadrunner men will host their ID Camp from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 1 at the AC Soccer Complex on the AC campus. The camp is for prospective players in 9th through 12th grades. Cost for the camp is $60 if players register by Feb. 21. After Feb. 21, the cost will be $75.
The Lady Roadrunners’ ID camp takes place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at the AC Soccer Complex on the AC campus. The camp is for prospective players in 9th through 12th grades. Cost for the camp is $30 if players register by Feb. 21. After Feb. 21, the cost will be $50.
Here’s the link for registration and other information for both Soccer ID camps:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mens-soccer-camp-collection-3998183
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games will be live-streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics website, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball at Panola College, 5:30 p.m. in Carthage.
No. 19 Roadrunner Basketball at No. 9 Panola College, 7:30 p.m. in Carthage.
Friday, Jan. 31:
Roadrunner Baseball at Wharton College, DH starting at 1 p.m. in Wharton.
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. NW Florida CC (3:30 p.m.) and Hinds College (6 p.m.) at Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville, LA.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. No. 15 Trinity Valley CC, 2 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
Roadrunner Basketball vs. Paris College, 4 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Bishop CC (12:30 p.m.) and Meridian CC (3 p.m.) at Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville, La.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025:
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Wharton College, DH starting at 1 p.m., Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
We’ll see you at the games.
Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614
