Hey, sports fans,
We just experienced a wild week at Angelina College Athletics, and with the way things are heating up, we’re expecting plenty more of the same.
Our baseball and softball teams combined for four wins on Friday the 13th, proving the day is only bad luck if you’re not a Roadrunner. On Valentine’s Day (Saturday), the Roadrunner men’s basketball team pulled off a sweetheart of a shocker, beating Navarro College in a rally for the ages.
We have plenty more action at home on tap, so be sure to check out the schedules listed below.
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:
Roadrunner Basketball Shocks Navarro College
If Valentine’s Day is all about surprising one’s loved ones, the Angelina College Roadrunners pulled it off perfectly.
The ‘Runners rallied in the final seconds to knock off Navarro College 63-62 Saturday at Shands Gymnasium in the most improbable fashion imaginable.
AC’s Zacc Sells came up with a steal and a pair of three pointers before the buzzer to cap the AC comeback and give the Roadrunners their seventh win in conference play. \
The game appeared over and in Navarro’s favor, with the Bulldogs holding a 62-56 lead with just 30 seconds to play. AC’s Ronald Durham hit a free throw to cut the deficit to five at 62-57, and all Navarro needed to do was run out the clock.
But while trying to avoid a foul, the Bulldogs threw an errant pass. Sells, falling out of bounds, came up with a steal and kickout to Payia, who passed back to Sells in the left corner. Sells drained a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Navarro inbounds, Payia knocked the ball away from a Bulldog, and Julius Crosby gathered it for the AC possession. Crosby passed off to Payia, who found Sells in the right corner, and Sells again ripped the nets with another trey with seven seconds left. Navarro’s last-gasp shot attempt caromed off the rim, leaving the Roadrunners with the comeback win.
Sells finished with 12 points, including a 4-of-8 effort from three-point range. He also added four steals to his totals. Crosby added 12 points and three assists, while Payia added 11 points and two steals. Cheikh Diebakhate added 10 points in the win.
On Wednesday, AC fell at home to Blinn College, with the Bucs taking a 67-64 win at Shands Gymnasium. Kai’Ree Murray and Daemon Ely each scored 14 points for the ‘Runners.
The Roadrunners (13-11, 7-9) play at Tyler Junior College on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
On Saturday, AC will host Bossier Parish Community College for a 4 p.m. game at Shands Gymnasium.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Lose to Blinn, Kilgore
The Lady Roadrunners’ depleted roster – the team suited up just six players against Blinn College – dropped a pair of conference games this past week, losing to Blinn 71-45 at home on Wednesday before falling 103-62 at Kilgore College on Saturday.
Against Blinn, AC’s Aminah Dixon and Ja’Kaila Lee each finished with 16 points.
In Kilgore, Timberlyn Washington led the Lady Roadrunners with 18 points, Dixon added 17 points and Katherine Martinez finished with 13 points.
The Lady ‘Runners (5-15, 1-8) are home at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday against Paris Junior College. On Saturday, AC will host No. 9 Trinity Valley Community College starting at 2 p.m.
Roadrunner Baseball Takes Three Wins for the Week
Things are really beginning to come together for the Roadrunner baseball team, with the team picking up three wins in three tries this past week.
AC opened the week with a 10-2 win at Dallas College-Brookhaven on Wednesday, with Cole Standley driving in four runs with a grand slam. Jackson Todd added two RBI, and Connor Ficarra and Luke Hamm drove in a run each. Koby Chesterton picked up the mound win, throwing four innings of scoreless ball while allowing just one hit and striking out six batters.
In Friday’s home doubleheader against Galveston College, the ‘Runners used some timely hitting and clutch pitching to sweep the Whitecaps by final scores of 6-3 and 4-2 at Poland Stadium.
AC used a four-run second inning to take the lead over the Whitecaps in Game 1. Standley drove in a pair of runs with a single, and Stefano Ramos added an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
In the sixth inning, AC’s Jorge Arcia-Palma rocked a solo homer over the left-field wall.
Pitcher Aaron Martinez threw a scoreless three innings in relief, striking out two Galveston hitters.
In Game 2, the ‘Runners rallied from a 2-0 deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the second inning after a Ficarra single scored Ramos and Arcia-Palma crossed the plate on a passed ball.
In the third, Jon “Diesel” Gonzalez drove home Cole Babineaux with a sacrifice fly, and in the fifth, Standley padded the lead with an RBI double to score Seth Sloan.
Starting pitcher Ethan Muniz went five innings on the mound, striking out six while allowing just two earned runs. Reliever Trey Nott finished off the final two innings, giving up one hit while striking out two Whitecaps – including a “K” to end the game.
The Roadrunners (7-3) on Wednesday will play host to Dallas College-Mountain View in a single, nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. AC will be at home again on Saturday, this time hosting Tyler Junior College in a doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start at Poland Stadium.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Sweeps Pair of Doubleheaders
AC’s ladies have put together an impressive four-game winning streak behind a pair of doubleheader sweeps this past week.
The Lady ‘Runners took wins by scores of 7-3 and 4-3 at Navarro College on Wednesday, with Jessi Sumpter driving in two runs in the opener. Breanne Calhoun, Ella Stephenson and Elizabeth Craig also picked up an RBI each, and pitcher Jaycee Knighton allowed just one earned run over seven innings of work, striking out six Lady Bulldogs.
Game 2 saw Calhoun come through with a two-run single in the fifth inning to give AC its winning margin. Craig also drove in a run, and Stephenson picked up the pitching win in relief, throwing three scoreless innings to close out the game.
Stephenson had herself a day in Friday’s 8-4, 6-1 sweep of Kilgore, homering in each game while earning the circle win in the late game.
In the opener, Stephenson’s three-run shot fueled an eight-run inning for the Lady Roadrunners. Katherine Page, Mallory Dunn and Molly McCormack also drove in runs for AC, while pitcher Jaycee Knighton tossed a complete game win in the circle, finishing with seven strikeouts.
In Game 2, Stephenson hit a solo shot in the fourth as part of AC’s four-run inning. In the circle, Stephenson picked up the complete-game win after allowing just one earned run while striking out three Lady Rangers.
Megan Smith collected two RBI, and Dunn, Page and Kassidy St. Clair drove in a run each.
The Lady Roadrunners (5-9) travel to Mount Pleasant this Wednesday to face Northeast Texas Community College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. On Saturday, AC’s ladies return home for a twin bill against Tyler Junior College. Game 1’s first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
AC Women’s Soccer Hosting ID Camp
The Lady Roadrunner soccer program has been among the nation’s best for the past several years, and they’re looking for more Lady ‘Runners to join the fun.
AC Women’s Soccer will host an “ID Camp” for prospective players on Saturday, April 11 at the soccer complex inside the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
The camp will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and is geared toward players looking to play at the collegiate level. Cost of the camp is $30 if players register before March 15; after March 15, the cost is $50 per player.
Click the link for registration and other info:
Potential Schedule Changes:
As always in East Texas, the potential exists for schedule changes because of inclement weather. We try to put out the word as soon as we get it, but the quickest way to confirm game days and times is to visit the AC Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view the most updated schedules. We’ll also send out word on social media (AC Athletics Facebook and Instagram, etc.), but the on-line schedule will always serve up the most recent updates.
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 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/Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Dallas College-Mountain View, single nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus
Lady Roadrunner Softball at Northeast Texas Community College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, TX
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Paris Junior College, 5:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium
Roadrunner Basketball at Tyler Junior College, 7 p.m. in Tyler, TX
Saturday, Feb. 21:
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Tyler Junior College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sport Complex on the AC campus
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Tyler Junior College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Trinity Valley Community College, 2 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus
Roadrunner Basketball vs. Bossier Parish Community College, 4 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium 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
