Hey, sports fans,
Our soccer teams experienced a slightly lighter load this week (save for one heartbreaking loss on the road for the men), but we had plenty of other stuff keeping our plates full of sports.
Our men’s basketball team got its scrimmage season started in Oklahoma, and our softball and baseball teams showed off big in some fall games.
We’ve also got a former Lady Roadrunner making big news on the big stage as she competes for a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) title.
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
No. 12 Roadrunner Soccer Falls at No. 18 Coastal Bend CC
Look up the word “heartbreaker” in the dictionary, and you may find the No. 12 Roadrunners’ Tuesday match at No. 18 Coastal Bend Community College.
AC’s men took an early 1-0 lead over the Cougars after a Shuto Ishikawa unassisted goal, but CBCC struck twice late: Once in the 83rd minute to even the match – and then again with just three seconds to play, knocking off the Roadrunners 2-1 in Beeville.
With the loss, the Roadrunners (6-2-1, 4-2-1) dropped down to second place in the Region XIV South Zone.
AC will travel to Louisiana State University-Eunice on Tuesday as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader kicking off at 5 p.m. The men will follow at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Lady ‘Runners and Roadrunners will be in Brenham to face Blinn College in another women’s/men’s doubleheader scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.
NOTE: Both the Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners will celebrate their respective Sophomore Night activities on Friday, Oct. 24, when both teams will host LSUE-E at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Men’s Basketball Opens Scrimmage Season in Oklahoma
Roadrunner head coach J.J. Montgomery and his staff consisting of Eric Colbert and Byron Coleman know they’re entering the season with a big target on the team’s back – courtesy of a high pre-season ranking and last year’s Elite Eight appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
Toss in a loaded roster with guys fighting for playing time, and it’s going to take the staff a minute to find all the right combinations.
On Thursday at the Oklahoma Jamboree in Norman, Oklahoma, the ‘Runners took one of three in the one-hour scrimmage format, with the coaches shuffling the lineups as the team learns each player’s best fit.
This week, the ‘Runners will be at the Fort Worth Jamboree in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, Oct. 10. AC faces North Idaho College at 2 p.m. and Eastern Arizona College at 7 p.m.
Those scrimmages take place at the Game On Sports Complex in Fort Worth.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Sweeps Nelson University
AC’s softball ladies traveled on Friday and picked up an impressive sweep of the Lady Lions, with the Lady ‘Runners winning 7-4 and 4-1 in Waxahachie.
Audrey Richardson, Eastyn Wilkie and Emily Zunker each drove in a pair of runs in the 7-4 opening-game win. Pitchers Jessi Sumpter, Jaycee Knighton and Ella Stephenson teamed up to hold the Lady Lions to four runs on three hits.
The nightcap saw Elizabeth Craig, Ella Berger, Kassidy St. Clair and Molly McCormack picking up the RBIs in the 4-1 win. Sumpter, Richardson and Knighton teamed up to no-hit Nelson’s lineup, with the lone run scored an unearned version.
AC Softball’s next fall game is on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.
Roadrunner Baseball Pounds HBT in Fall Home Game
A big crowd showed up on Sunday to watch the Roadrunner baseball team put on some offensive fireworks, as AC walloped HBT Scout 34-3 at Poland Stadium.
AC’s Daigan Venable inflicted the most damage with his bat, driving in five runs with four hits. Stefano Ramos added three RBI, and a host of ‘Runners managed to dent the plate as AC tallied 34 hits in the game.
Next up for the Roadrunners is a home doubleheader on Friday, Oct. 10 against San Jacinto College. First pitch for the opener is set for 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Former Lady ‘Runner Natasha Mack Playing for WNBA Title
As a member of the Angelina College Lady Roadrunner basketball team under former head coach Byron Coleman, Natasha Mack was a two-time NJCAA All-American and the first Lady ‘Runner ever selected in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft following her career at Oklahoma State.
Mack in 2019 also led the Lady ‘Runners to their only NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
Now, the Lufkin native is playing on an even bigger stage – and for an even bigger prize.
Currently a member of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, Mack and the Mercury are playing for a WNBA title, with Phoenix battling the Las Vegas Aces – who won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 – in a best-of-seven finals series.
Mack, named one of the league’s top defenders by Sports Illustrated, finished the regular season with 99 blocked shots.
Vegas topped the Mercury 89-86 in Game 1 of the series, following up with a 91-78 win over Phoenix on Sunday. Mack pulled down 10 rebounds in Sunday’s losing effort.
The series’ remaining schedule, along with the network televising the event, is as follows:
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 5*: Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. (ABC)
Game 6*: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 7*: Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
*If–necessary games
Baseball Adds “Kids Camp” in October
AC’s baseball team will offer a “Kids Camp” on Monday, Oct. 13 at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. Ages 6-10 will hit the field from 9-11 a.m. (with 8:45 check-in), while ages 11-14 will be on the diamond from 12-2 p.m. (with an 11:45 check-in).
Click the link for registration and other info:
For further questions, contact Roadrunner head baseball coach Jon Phillips at jphillips@angelina.edu or assistant coach Cody Crowder at ccrowder@angelina.edu.
All AC Teams Have Schedules Up and Running Online
Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner fans can now find their favorite teams’ schedules on the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com). For now, only the fall schedules for baseball and softball are in place (with the potential to add more events later), but all other teams, including both women’s and men’s basketball, are ready for viewing and planning.
We’ll update any changes as we receive them.
We can’t wait to see you at the games.
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games are 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 smartphones, 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/Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Tuesday, Oct. 7:
No. 13 Lady Roadrunner Soccer at Louisiana State University-Eunice, 5 p.m. in Eunice, LA.
No. 12 Roadrunner Soccer at Louisiana State University-Eunice, 7:30 p.m. in Eunice, LA.
Thursday, Oct. 9:
Lady Roadrunner Softball at the University of North Texas, doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. in Denton, TX.
Friday, Oct. 10:
Roadrunner Basketball at Fort Worth Jamboree (Scrimmages) in Fort Worth, TX: AC vs. Northern Idaho College, 2 p.m.; AC vs. Butler Community College, 4 p.m.; AC vs. Eastern Arizona College, 7 p.m.
All games take place at the Game On Athletic Center in Fort Worth, TX. (No live streaming available for scrimmages.)
AC Baseball vs. San Jacinto College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. (No live streaming for fall games, but fans can follow along on the Game Changer app.)
Saturday, Oct. 11:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball at Shalin Hoops Showcase in Mansfield, TX. (Teams and times TBA.)
Roadrunner Basketball at Fort Worth Jamboree (Scrimmages) in Fort Worth, TX. Teams and times TBA.
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
