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Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
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This was such a big week at Angelina College, and not just because we had so many games taking place. Both the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner AC basketball teams opened their regular seasons, which was exciting enough.

But the week’s big news was even bigger.

The 7th-ranked Roadrunner soccer team is heading to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the second straight year.

And some very strange characters showed up at the Lady Roadrunner softball field on Halloween Night.

Following is a rundown of this past week, along with some events heading your way in the next few days.

Roadrunner Soccer Heading to National Tournament…Again

Angelina College soccer players hoist the trophy following Friday’s 2-1 over Tyler Junior College in the Gulf South District Championship played at the AC Soccer Complex. The No. 7 Roadrunners now have qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament in consecutive seasons. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Some big “firsts” for the Roadrunner soccer team this week.

First, the ‘Runners beat Blinn College 4-1 in Wednesday’s Gulf South District Semifinal on the AC campus, setting up Friday’s district finale against perennial nemesis Tyler Junior College.

Been there, done that.

What was different about this 2023 season was that the Roadrunners for the first time in program history played host in the Gulf South District Championship. In years past, AC was a lower seed, meaning the team would travel – nearly always to Tyler, and nearly always experiencing disappointment in the championship match. In 2022, AC lost and had to settle for an at-large bid to nationals.

Not this year. The Apaches entered Friday’s finals match ranked No. 6 in the nation. Tyler has won the Region XIV conference title for several consecutive years. But here in 2023, the Roadrunners won the conference outright by finishing the season without a loss – thereby earning the host status.

After dispatching Blinn 4-1 in Wednesday’s semifinals at Angelina College, the ‘Runners sought to change the narrative created over the past few years.

AC did so in thrilling fashion. After conceding an early goal and trailing 1-0 at the half against the high-powered Apaches, the Roadrunners brought strikes of lightning late in the second half: Roadrunner sophomore Luan Rangel converted a penalty kick set up on some sweet offensive maneuvers from Christian Castaneda to even the score at 1-1 in the 81st minute.

Then, with just four minutes to play before the teams would have faced overtime, Castaneda drew another foul from the Apaches. Castaneda then blasted a free-kick goal past the Tyler wall and goalkeeper, giving the ‘Runners their final margin in the 2-1 victory.

The win means the Roadrunners have earned an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament starting on Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

In addition, the berth makes the Roadrunner men’s soccer team the very first AC Athletics team in the college’s 55 years to qualify for a national tournament in consecutive seasons (AC’s men also qualified in 2022).

And to add to the list of accomplishments: Men’s soccer head coach Martin Melchor joins softball coach Brette Kohring as the only AC coaches on the college’s history to earn national tournament berths in their very first seasons as AC head coaches. (Kohring took her 2022 softball team to nationals in Oxford, Alabama.)

On Tuesday, AC will host an on-campus watch party in which the NJCAA will announce its seedings for the upcoming national tournament. Tuesday’s broadcast begins at 1 p.m., with the men’s bracket selection scheduled for 2 p.m. Location is TBA.

The tournament actually kicks off on Sunday, Nov. 12 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas. The NJCAA Network will live stream all the tournament matches.

The college will release more details after Tuesday’s selection show.

AC Basketball Teams Tip Off Regular Season

The real season is here.

After spending the entire month of October chasing pre-season scrimmages, both AC basketball teams tipped off their “real” seasons this week.

The Lady Roadrunners played three games this week, falling 74-69 Tuesday in Hill College, winning 67-38 over Western Gulf College in Friday’s opener of the McLennan Classic in Waco, and wrapping up the week with an 86-59 loss on Saturday to host McLennan College.

Saturday, the Roadrunner men threw up the ball on the 2023-2024 season, hosting Strength and Motion Red at Shands Gymnasium. AC overcame a sluggish start to the contest – the ‘Runners actually trailed at the half – to regroup for a 71-59 win at Shands Gymnasium.

Freshman Kai’Ree Murray came off the bench to lead the ‘Runners in scoring with 21 points. Cade Holzman added 12 points; Kyle Morgan, Xavier Owens and Nehikare Igiehon each chipped in with 10 points.

Patrick Johnson’s all-around game included four points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Roadrunners host a home game against Honor Armour’s Lions at 5 p.m. Monday at Shands Gymnasium.

The Lady Roadrunners host their home opener at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Grayson College.

All basketball games are live-streamed on the Angelina College Athletics YouTube channel (roadrunner_athletics).

AC Softball Hosts Halloween Game

There was a Snooki sighting, along with a sumo wrestler – and some characters no one even bothered trying to name.

The Lady Roadrunner softball team ditched their uniforms in lieu of Halloween costumes for a quick exhibition on Tuesday (Halloween Night).

Later in the week, the team went back to its traditional uniforms for a series of fall games. AC will close out its fall season with a home game starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at Lady Roadrunner Field on the AC campus.

COMING UP:

Both the AC softball and men’s soccer programs will be hosting ID showcases (tryouts) in the very near future. Keep checking your email for updates, or simply visit the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.edu) or visit AC on the AC Athletics Facebook page. Fans can also find us on Twitter (@ACAthletics).

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

3rd Annual CELEBRATE BUSINESS: Chamber Business Awards (Angelina County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Join us next Thursday at The Pines Theater in Downtown Lufkin as we announce this year’s winners of the 3rd annual CELEBRATE BUSINESS: Chamber Business Awards, presented by citywidepromo.com!

Purchase your tickets at bit.ly/CelebrateBA-2023. Tickets are ONLY $30 for Chamber Investors and $40 for Non-Investors and include light appetizers and one complimentary drink. A cash bar will also be available.

Date/Time Information:
November 9, 2023
Doors open at 6 PM
Event 6:30 PM to 8 PM

Location:
The Pines Theater in Downtown Lufkin

Thank you to all of our sponsors:
Diamond Sponsor: MSGPR Ltd Co
Platinum Sponsor: Duncan-Two, LTD
Silver Sponsor: Phoenix Graphic Design & Marketing
Salute to Healthcare Sponsor: St. Luke’s Health – Memorial Lufkin
Paparazzi Sponsor: Seventy-Nine Photography
Libations Sponsor: Law Office of Maira F. Carrillo, PLLC
After Party Sponsor: Restoration Bistro

Celebrate Later: No. 7 Roadrunners Beat Blinn in District Semifinal

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Luan Rangel (15) leans into a shot attempt during Wednesday’s match against Blinn College. The No. 7 Roadrunners beat the Bucs 4-1 to advance to Friday’s title game of the NJCAA’s Gulf South District tournament, where AC will host No. 6 Tyler Junior College. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

AC Hosting District Championship vs. Tyler on Friday

There was virtually no celebration following Wednesday’s big win. A few hugs, some handshakes and a nod to the crowd – that was about it as a subdued Angelina College men’s soccer team wrapped up its 10th win of the season against zero losses.

It’s not that the win wasn’t a big one. In fact, the No. 7 Roadrunners’ 4-1 win over Blinn College’s Buccaneers in the NJCAA’s Gulf South District semifinal extended the guys’ remarkable season by another match – and that will be the one meriting a bigger celebration.

Angelina College’s Filliph Kamfjord (14) avoids a Blinn defender’s sliding tackle attempt during Wednesday’s match. The No. 7 Roadrunners beat the Bucs 4-1 to advance to Friday’s title game of the NJCAA’s Gulf South District tournament, where AC will host No. 6 Tyler Junior College. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

The match will be for the District championship, and the ‘Runners will host Tyler College on Friday with a berth to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament on the line.

To get there, the Roadrunner offense on Wednesday relied on the same relentless attack lifting them to this position all season long. Christian Castaneda danced around defenders to send home a sweet feed from teammate Kaito Ueki in the 15th minute, but the Buc defense stiffened to make that the only score of the first half.

Then AC broke it open in the second half with a pair of goals in quick succession. Ueki slipped through a small opening in the Blinn defense to score off Lennart Poth’s feed in the 60th minute, and Omar Mora followed two minutes later with a goal set up on a Castaneda cross.

Angelina College’s Omar Mora (10) leads the offense up the pitch during Wednesday’s match against Blinn College. The No. 7 Roadrunners beat the Bucs 4-1 to advance to Friday’s title game of the NJCAA’s Gulf South District tournament, where AC will host No. 6 Tyler Junior College. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Blinn’s Diego Ramos would score his team’s only goal in the 64th minute, but AC’s Eric Ortiz converted a breakaway setup from Filliph Kamfjord with just four minutes to play to cap the scoring.

AC keeper Viktor Hojbjerg slapped away six of the seven Blinn shots on goal, and the Roadrunner back line did its part in thwarting several Buc runs.

Angelina College’s Filliph Kamfjord (14) wins the ball against a Blinn College defender during Wednesday’s match. The No. 7 Roadrunners beat the Bucs 4-1 to advance to Friday’s title game of the NJCAA’s Gulf South District tournament, where AC will host No. 6 Tyler Junior College. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

The seventh-ranked Roadrunners (10-0-2) now host a showdown with No. 6 Tyler Junior College at 7 p.m. on Friday. The two teams battled to a classic 1-1 draw back in September in their only meeting of the season.

The match’s winner earns an automatic berth to the national tournament, while the runner-up will have to wait for a possible at-large bid.

Admission to all AC Athletics events is free. The match will be live-streamed on the AC Athletics YouTube channel (roadrunner_athletics).

The email for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

LET’S DO IT AGAIN: Roadrunners Beat Tyler, Earn 2nd Straight National Tournament Berth

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College soccer players hoist the trophy following Friday’s 2-1 over Tyler Junior College in the Gulf South District Championship played at the AC Soccer Complex. The No. 7 Roadrunners now have qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament in consecutive seasons. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

For more than 80 minutes, the Angelina College Roadrunners experienced just about every frustration a soccer team could possibly experience. Missed shots, missed opportunities and an offensive attack thwarted time again by a solid opposing defense.

When the breaks finally arrived, the ‘Runners nailed them down in a big way.

With Tyler holding a 1-0 lead for more than 60 minutes, AC’s Luan Rangel converted a penalty kick to even the match at 1-1 in the 82nd minute, and Christian Castaneda followed with the eventual game-winner on a free kick in the 87th minute to lift the No. 6 Roadrunners to a 2-1 win over No. 7 Tyler Junior College in Friday’s Gulf South District Championship at Angelina College.

Angelina College’s Kaito Ueki (22) maneuvers around Tyler Junior College defenders during Friday’s match. The No. 7 Roadrunners edged the No. 6 Apaches to win the Gulf South District Championship and earn the program’s second consecutive berth in the upcoming NJCAA National Tournament. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Not only is it an AC soccer program’s first outright district championship – the men finished as runners-up in 2022- but the ‘Runner soccer team also becomes the very first team in Angelina College athletics history to appear in a national tournament in consecutive seasons.

As expected, both teams on the pitch Friday waged an all-out battle. Earlier this season, the Roadrunners and Apaches battled to a 1-1 draw.

Angelina College’s Kaito Ueki (22) maneuvers around Tyler Junior College defenders during Friday’s match. The No. 7 Roadrunners edged the No. 6 Apaches to win the Gulf South District Championship and earn the program’s second consecutive berth in the upcoming NJCAA National Tournament. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

On Friday, there would be no tie. And just when it seemed the teams might be heading toward overtime and possibly penalty kicks to decide a winner, AC’s offense turned things around quickly.

Castaneda’s run through the box and ensuing Apache penalty set up Rangel with the dramatic penalty kick. After a long stare down with the Tyler keeper, Rangel scraped the post just enough to keep the ball out of reach, and the match was tied at 1-1.

Castaneda was the catalyst for the winner, drawing another foul at the top of the box and setting up his free kick, which he blasted through the Apache defense and the keeper.

The Roadrunners will learn next week of their seeding for the upcoming NJCAA Division I National Tournament scheduled to kick off in Wichita, Kansas on Nov. 12.

Players, coaches and staff members pose with the trophies earned after the Angelina College Roadrunner soccer team beat Tyler Junior College 2-1 in Friday’s Gulf Coast District Championship. With the win, the ‘Runners have earned their second consecutive trip to the upcoming NJCAA National Tournament. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Successful Fruit Production in the Home Landscape

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Homeowners that are thinking about adding fruit trees to their home landscape need to first start by taking an honest look at their site. Before we get excited about peaches or pears or citrus or other fruits, we need to be honest about our available space, the amount of sunlight it receives, the soil type, and lastly, some different fruits to consider.

Fruit trees do best with a full day of sunshine. Other trees on the edge of your property that block the morning sun as well as the afternoon sun will greatly limit the success of whatever fruit producing tree you choose to plant. Finding that spot that gets a full day of sunshine is often a difficult task for those that live in heavily wooded residential areas.

If you have a place that will receive plenty of sunlight to have a bumper crop, we next need to look down and evaluate our soil. There are many, many fruit tree types that require excellent internal drainage. Internal drainage is the ability of a soil to accept water from rainfall or irrigation and for that water to percolate down through the soil. Ground that slopes has “run-off”. Sloped ground may or may not have good internal drainage.

The accepted way to determine if you have excellent internal drainage is to dig a hole and carefully monitor how well the water seeps down into the soil. Ground that takes days for the water to dissipate will be very unsuitable for the majority of fruit trees you wish to plant.

If you have established that you have plenty of sunlight and good soil for the production of fruit, then we can begin talking about what you can plant. Let’s discuss a few unique fruit varieties that you may want to consider.

Persimmon is a native fruit tree that grows quite well around here. The Asian persimmon is a larger fruited type that doesn’t grow larger than the native trees. With Asian varieties, you can choose from astringent or non- astringent types. We had an old Asian persimmon at our rent house in Woodville that produced worlds of fruit each fall without any management on my part.

An easy to grow fruit is figs. While figs certainly prefer well drained soil and produce best on that type of soil, they can tolerate the wide variety of soils. Figs can be planted without any cross pollinator. Pruning is minimal and they have been proven very resilient to extreme heat and even extreme cold such as we had this past February.

The native blackberry should also be considered by folks on less-than-ideal soil types that may be limited on space. Gone are the days where you must have a thorny blackberry plant. While those thorny types are still certainly available, there are several high-quality thornless varieties that the home gardener should consider having in their fruit orchard.

From one of my favorite books, Heirloom Gardening in the South by William C. Welch and Greg Grant, states that one of the oldest and widely grown fruits across the south was the pomegranate. For most landscapes, pomegranates are most easily incorporated as a multitrunked shrub or hedge. They have orange-red blooms in the spring and yield their fruit in late summer to fall. I have never seen a pomegranate growing at any residence I’ve visited. And yet this is one of the  more popular fruits and juices in commercials.

A native fruit that is well-known in Southeast Texas is the mayhaw. Now, mayhaws are known to grow in swampy areas. Mayhaws can also be quite successfully grown on good, well-drained upland soil. Mayhaws are used for jams and jellies and juices. If you have any interest in this fruit, I urge you to check out the Louisiana Mayhaw Growers’ association online.

Don’t forget the native muscadines.  Most varieties ripen from mid-August through September in East Texas. Be sure to study the varieties as they greatly vary in their production and need for pollination.

Are there several more fruit options available? Absolutely. Finding something that your family enjoys eating, and that you can grow without too much trouble, is the key to successful home fruit production.

By far the best location for in-depth information on the fruits mentioned above, and many others, is the website https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/.  Search for “aggie-horticulture” in your web browser and then click on the Fruit and Nut Resources link.

Capitol Update: Addressing Border Security and the Daylight Savings Time Debate in Texas

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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As the days grow increasingly shorter with the change in seasons, many East Texans wonder why it’s necessary to change our clocks back an hour around this time every year. Over the last several weeks, my office has received numerous phone calls regarding the observation of Daylight Savings Time in Texas. While some support changing the clocks back, many others simply don’t understand why we must “fall back” every year only to see the sunset before supper time. While there are two sides to every issue, you might be interested to know that during the most recent legislative session, the Texas House overwhelmingly passed HB 1422, which would authorize the observation of Daylight Savings Time year-round so that Texans would never have to change their clocks again. Though this bill ultimately failed to make it through the Senate, I believe this issue merits further consideration from the voters of Texas to decide whether we stay on Standard Time or observe Daylight Savings Time year-round.  

With that, here’s this week’s Capitol Update. . .

Capitol Update

As you may know, the Legislature is in the final weeks of the third called special session. I’m pleased to report that the Texas House recently passed several key bills aimed at addressing our ongoing border crisis. Given the federal government’s failure to secure our southern border, the State of Texas has taken matters into its own hands by enacting policies to deter the surge of illegal activity occurring at the border.

House Bill 4 creates a state-level offense for a person who is found to have entered our country illegally, which allows Texas peace officers with the statutory authority to detain migrants and order them back to the nation from which they came. Since illegal entry is not currently a crime under state law, law enforcement officers can only arrest migrants for the offense of criminal trespass when permitted by landowners. By allowing illegal entry to prosecute at the state level, HB 4 would enable state authorities to use discretion in detaining migrants without having to rely on the cooperation of landowners. HB 4 is one of the strongest border security bills in our state’s history and will provide law enforcement officers with the tools and authority necessary to keep Texans safe.   

House Bill 6 appropriates $1.5 billion for the construction, operation, and maintenance of barriers and fencing at our southern border. The State of Texas cannot wait on Washington D.C. to deliver the resources necessary to construct physical barriers along the Rio Grande. With drug and human trafficking surging across the country, the State of Texas has taken bold and decisive action by providing the necessary investments to fund the construction of a permanent barrier.

Since the start of 2023, the Texas Legislature has dedicated a historic $6.5 billion to border security operations. Though the issue of border security is far from resolved, rest assured that the State of Texas will continue to lead the way in the ongoing effort to secure the border. 

3rd Annual Nacogdoches Dia de Los Muertos: Day of the Dead Fun Run (Nacogdoches County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Location of the Run:
507 E. Hospital St. Nacogdoches, TX  75961 (East side of Fredonia Brewery)
Description:

Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a time when families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses, and cemeteries. This is a joyful festivity for families and the community.

PACKET PICKUP: Packet pickup will be the day before the race location is to be determined.

SHIRTS: ONLY THE FIRST 100 5k Participants to register are guaranteed a performance t-shirt. Shirts for the 1 mile are not included in the registration.

AWARDS and MEDALS:  ALL 5K and 1-mile participants will receive participation medals upon completion of their distance. We will have awards for the top overall male and female finishers for the 5K. We will also be giving out awards for each age group.

Race Day Timeline: Start time: 1 mile begins at 8 am and the 5K begins at 8:30 am

RACE DAY REGISTRATION: Race Day registration will be available until 7:30 am

More information will be posted on the race site and NacSeries site.

DIRECTIONS

Race Website:
Additional race information can be found at https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Nacogdoches/DiadeLosMuertosDayoftheDead5k.

Strategic Tactics for Optimal Protection Training (San Augustine County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Join the Family Crisis Center of East Texas for S.T.O.P. “Strategic Tactics for Optimal Protection” Training!

Save the Date: Tuesday, November 7

Location: Pitzer Garrison Convention Center, 601 N 2nd St, Lufkin, TX 75901

Registration: 7:30 am – 8:15 am

Presentations: 8:15 am – 5 pm

Don’t let Election Day keep you away from this invaluable opportunity! Cast your vote early so you can be part of this extraordinary event brought to you by the agency.

Learn from World-Renowned Experts

Discover the power of de-escalation and safety training, guided by renowned experts (see flyer for speaker lineup). Gain situational awareness, and early recognition skills, and boost your confidence and skills in handling aggression.

What You’ll Learn:
-De-escalation Training
-Real-World Threat Response
-Active Shooter Training
-Stop the Bleed Training

This training is funded by a generous grant from Texas Mutual Insurance Company.

Admission is FREE and the program is open to the public, but seating is LIMITED. Secure your spot now through online registration at https://bit.ly/STOPTraining

Complimentary Lunch, Snacks, and Drinks are provided.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Melissa Wheeler at 936-639-1681 or email her at mwheeler@fccet.com.

Adopt A Family for Christmas (San Augustine County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Join the Family Crisis Center of East Texas for the heartwarming Adopt-a-Family program! This is your chance to bring joy and warmth to survivors of abuse and their children, who are determined to build violence-free lives.

Here’s how it works:
Send an email request to aturner@fccet.com or call Angela Turner at 936-639-1681 to adopt a family. The deadline is Friday, December 1!

Families of all sizes are available for adoption. You will be emailed the wish list of a family and instructions for gift delivery. Shop for two wish items plus an item of clothing or shoes per family member.

Outside of Lufkin? No problem! Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Nacogdoches, San Augustine, or Crockett outreach office too. Please include wrapping supplies so the parent can feel included in the joy of giving.

Last year, the incredible East Texas community made Christmas brighter for 86 families in need, including a total of 188 children. Let’s keep the tradition of kindness alive and shine a light of hope together! 

Governor Abbott Travels To Israel, Reaffirms Unwavering Support

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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(PHOTO: Office Of The Governor, 11/2/23)

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott this morning arrived in Israel to reaffirm Texas’ enduring and unwavering support of the State of Israel, the Israeli people, and Israel’s right to self-defense amid acts of war by the brutal terrorist organization Hamas. This is Governor Abbott’s third trip to Israel since elected Governor in 2015.

“There is a deep, enduring bond between Texas and Israel, with the blessings of freedom and burdens of vigilance embedded in the histories of both our people,” said Governor Abbott. “Unfortunately, never has freedom in Israel been more threatened than it is right now—and the people of Israel are vigorously fighting to defend it. I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of this horrific war and how we can continue to help Israel safeguard their freedom during this trip. Texas stands ready to offer our complete and total support to Israel in their fight against brutal terrorist organizations like Hamas.”

During the trip, Governor Abbott will meet with Israeli officials and visit with victims and impacted families to gain first-hand knowledge about the impacts of the Israel-Hamas war and ways Texas can continue to support Israel—America’s strongest ally in the Middle East. The Governor is joined on the trip by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. This trip is coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest.

Governor Abbott has taken significant action to bolster security and combat antisemitism across Texas amid acts of war against the State of Israel and innocent civilians by the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, including: 

Previous significant actions Governor Abbott has taken to ensure Texas maintains a strong and supportive relationship with Israel include: establishing the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission; awarding more than $19 million through his Public Safety Office for security enhancement projects to houses of worship, such as synagogues; and banning all state agencies from engaging in business or investments with companies that boycott Israel.

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