Hey, sports fans,
We’re officially in full Spring Swing, with four of our teams currently in action. This week saw the No. 18 Roadrunner men’s basketball and the Lady Roadrunners’ basketball teams split their games in conference play; the Roadrunner baseball team with a home-and-home series against Wharton County Community College; and the Lady Roadrunner softball team (finally) getting a chance to open its regular season at this past weekend’s Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville, Louisiana.
Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
No. 18 Roadrunners Fall at No. 8 Panola, Bounce Back to Beat Paris
The No. 18 Roadrunners found themselves in an outright dogfight Wednesday night in Carthage, with the Ponies eventually pulling away late for a 50-42 win over the ‘Runners. The two teams waged a defensive battle all game long, but AC tied the score with just two minutes to play before Panola held off the ‘Runners’ charge. Chris Carpenter led AC with 13 points in the loss.
On Saturday, the Roadrunners took down Paris Junior College by a 56-51 final. Kyle Morgan hit for 14 points, while Carpenter and Jordan Mathews added 10 points each.
The win pushes AC’s record to 17-3, 10-2 for the season. The ‘Runners travel to Baytown on Wednesday to face Lee College at 7 p.m. before returning home on Saturday to host the No. 2 Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals. Game time at Shands Gymnasium is 4 p.m.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Beats Panola, Falls to No. 13 Trinity Valley
AC’s ladies opened the week with a big road, beating the Panola College Fillies 52-37 in Carthage. India McMahon led AC with 18 points, and Lanaijha Johnson added yet another double-double to her resume with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
On Saturday, the Lady Roadrunners slugged it out with No. 13 Trinity Valley Community College, with the Lady Cardinals eventually holding off AC’s best effort to win 71-59 at Shands Gymnasium.
McMahon fought her way to a 17-point game, Johnson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds and Alannah Nerocker chipped in with 12 points. Shanice Ferguson added 10 rebounds for the Lady Roadrunners, now 10-10, 3-4 on the season.
The Lady ‘Runners are off this week, with a scheduled bye on Wednesday. Saturday’s scheduled game against the Dallas Angels has been canceled.
AC Baseball Tangles with Wharton College in Three-Game Stand
After opening the season last weekend with two straight walk-off wins in a doubleheader against Galveston, the Roadrunners took on Wharton College in a three-game stand that opened with a doubleheader on Friday in Wharton and wrapped up with AC’s home game on Sunday.
On Friday, the Pioneers managed a walk-off win, scoring in the bottom of the seventh for a 1-0 win over the ‘Runners. AC’s Ethan Jezierski tossed five innings of scoreless ball, striking out four batters.
AC would bounce back in the nightcap, pounding the Pioneers for a 12-1 win. Stefano Ramos rocked a solo homer, Michael Herndon drove in four runs and Ryan Beaty finished with two RBI as the Roadrunners hammered out 16 hits over seven innings.
Starting pitcher David Wilson allowed just one earned run while striking out four in 3.2 innings. Relievers Sam Nitzke, Luke Harrington and Bradley Burkhardt teamed up to keep the Pioneers scoreless the rest of the way.
On Sunday at home against those same Pioneers, the Roadrunners found themselves trailing 9-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Then AC’s Mark Henderson launched a three-run homer over the left-field wall, and Landon Bailey’s infield single scored Michael Herndon to cut the deficit to just two runs at 9-7. However, with the tying runs on base, the ‘Runners just couldn’t manage the final big hit, with Wharton squeezing out the 9-7 win.
Diesel Gonzalez and Ryan Lewis also homered in the game.
The Roadrunners (3-2) play in Alvin on Wednesday, with a doubleheader against the Dolphins scheduled to start at 1 p.m. AC then hosts Temple College in a twin bill scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Saturday at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Splits Four Games at Mardi Gras Invitational
Finally, the Lady Roadrunner softball team got the opportunity to play some official games. After Wednesday’s schedule home opener against Cisco College was a washout, AC’s ladies hit the road to Youngsville, Louisiana for the two-day Mardi Gras Classic.
Friday’s doubleheader opened with a 16-5 loss to No. 4 Northwest Florida State Community College. Katherine Page drove in a pair of runs, while teammates Trinnity Blatz, and Emily Zunker added an RBI each.
The Lady Roadrunners rebounded in the nightcap, beating Hinds College 7-1 behind a strong overall performance from Jessi Sumpter. The freshman from Neches went 4-for-4 at the plate, homering and driving in a total of three runs. Sumpter also earned the pitching win, tossing a complete game while striking out five and allowing just one earned run. Izzy Allen, Elizabeth Craig and Blatz added an RBI each.
Saturday’s action opened with the Lady ‘Runners’ 13-11 win over Bishop State CC. Allen homered and drove in four runs, and Emily Zunker added another three RBI. Page, Sumpter, Blatz, Craig and Taylor Milliken each drove in a run. Madison Johnson, Megan Luce and Sumpter teamed up in the pitching circle for the win.
AC closed out the Invitational against Meridian CC, with the Lady Roadrunners falling in a 7-3 final. Allen and Sumpter each drove in a run in the loss.
The Lady Roadrunners (2-2) will host their home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 5 against Tyler Junior College. The doubleheader at Lady Roadrunner Field is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
On Friday, AC Softball will open the Angelina Invite featuring four teams playing eight games over two days. See the schedule below for games and times.
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. The 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 web site, 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, Feb. 5, 2025:
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Tyler Junior College (AC home opener), DH starting at 1 p.m. at Lady Roadrunner Field on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Baseball at Alvin College, DH starting at 1 p.m. in Alvin, TX.
No. 19 Roadrunner Basketball at Lee College, 7 p.m. in Baytown, TX.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball: BYE
Friday, Feb. 7:
Lady Roadrunner Softball Hosting Angelina Invite at Lady Roadrunner Field:
Kilgore College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 10:30 a.m.
Kilgore College vs. Angelina College, 1 p.m.
Paris College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 3:30 p.m.
Paris College vs. Angelina College, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025:
No. 19 Roadrunner Basketball vs. No. 2 Trinity Valley CC, 4 p.m., Shands Gymnasium.
Roadrunner Baseball at Temple College, DH starting at 1 p.m. in Temple, TX
Lady Roadrunner Softball Hosting Angelina Invite at Lady Roadrunner Field:
Paris College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 10:30 a.m.
Paris College vs. Angelina College, 1 p.m.
Kilgore College vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, 3:30 p.m.
Kilgore College vs. Angelina College, 6 p.m.
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
