Page 654 | Texas Forest Country Living

Nacogdoches Public Library Hosts Creation Station And Adult Art Series

Grace Baldwin

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May 11, 2016

Nacogdoches Public Library Hosts Creation Station And Adult Art Series

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library invites children, ages 7-11 years, to a Creation Station workshop on Wednesday, May 18th at 5:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to create stylish jewelry of their own design by suspending objects in resin.

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library is excited to host the Creation Station program for children ages 7-11 years who share a passion for creativity in craft making, jewelry designs, and imaginative works of musical and visual art.

Please call 559-2970 to register.

The Friends of the Library are on Facebook (as Judy B. McDonald Public Library) and Twitter (as @friendsofnacpl).

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library invites the community to attend an Adult Art Series workshop on Monday, May 16th at 5:30 p.m.

The program provides a creative outlet for grown-ups where the focus is on the process of creating instead of on the product. This month’s session will focus on still life painting.

Please call 559-2970 to register or for more information.

Texas Parent PAC endorses Dr. Keven Ellis for election to State Board of Education in District 9

Misty Boggs

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May 10, 2016

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Texas Parent PAC endorses Dr. Keven Ellis for election to State Board of Education in District 9

Statewide parent organization says voters should elect a respected leader to set statewide policy for public education

keven-Ellis-thumbnail-1 — Dr. Keven Ellis is running for State Board of Education in District 9.

AUSTIN—Today Texas Parent PAC announced its endorsement of Lufkin school board president Dr. Keven Ellis for the Republican nomination for District 9 State Board of Education. This is an open seat to succeed board vice-chair Thomas Ratliff, who is resigning at the end of his term.

“Parents and children in northeast Texas deserve to be represented in Austin by a well-respected education leader like Keven Ellis,” said Texas Parent PAC board of directors member Blake Powell of Austin. “His controversial opponent has drawn statewide and national attention because of her out-of-the-mainstream views.”

The 15-member elected State Board of Education is responsible for establishing policy and providing leadership for the Texas public school system, which educates more than 5.2 million students. Primary responsibilities include setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, establishing graduation requirements, and overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund. In addition, the board provides a final review of rules proposed by the State Board of Educator Certification and reviews the commissioner’s proposed award of new charter schools, with authority to veto a recommended applicant.

District 9 on the State Board of Education encompasses 31 counties: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood.

In 1998 when he opened Ellis Chiropractic in Lufkin, Dr. Ellis became actively involved in the community. He has served as chairman of the Small Business Council for Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lufkin Host Lions Club, president of Angelina County Benefit Rodeo, and president of the Z&OO Railroad at Ellen Trout Memorial Park & Zoo.

He also is a former assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 136 and chairman of the Eastview United Pentecostal Church building committee.
In addition to serving on the school board, Dr. Ellis was a charter member of the Lufkin ISD Education Foundation and member of the Lufkin ISD Tri-Ethnic Board. He worked with the school district to bring a Neuhaus-certified dyslexic therapist to every campus in the district. With two dyslexic children, he knows firsthand these therapists can help the hundreds of students who struggle with reading and need intervention.

Dr. Ellis and his wife, Shelli Cox Ellis, have three children, twins Kati and Jacob who attend Texas A&M University and son John, who is a student at Lufkin High School.

Texas Parent PAC endorses a small, select number of Republican and Democratic legislative and State Board of Education candidates statewide. The PAC describes its endorsed candidates as “men and women of integrity, open and responsive to parents, actively involved in their communities, and committed to investing in public education to achieve economic prosperity in Texas.”

Public school supporters are encouraged to visit www.ellisfortexas.com to learn more about the candidate and his campaign. Early voting takes place May 16-20, and election day is Tuesday, May 24.

To learn more about Texas Parent PAC, visit www.txparentpac.com.

A Guide to Saving Water and Your Lawn

Misty Boggs

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May 10, 2016

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No longer must you choose between your lawn and saving water. Experts say there are ways to save both water and money that won’t hurt your turf.

“We often see sprinklers watering sidewalks and drives, running during rain, or sending water down the drain from leaky heads,” says Josh Friell, Ph. D, senior agronomist of The Toro Company’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology. “The good news is there are simple, cost-effective actions homeowners can take to save up to 30 percent in outdoor water usage alone.”

Friell recommends these lawn-care watering tips:

First Things First

Most timed sprinklers water in the early morning, without homeowner attention. At the beginning of the season, run each zone briefly during daylight hours to see how the system is operating. Look for broken lines or damaged sprinkler heads, and inspect spray patterns to ensure water isn’t wasted.

When to Water

Experts suggest watering deeply and infrequently. This helps wet the entire root zone and encourages deeper root growth, which helps the lawn better tolerate mild to moderate drought. It is best to water in the early morning around 4 to 5 a.m., as this gives lawns time to absorb the moisture and prevents evaporation due to daytime heat.

How Much to Water

During summer, your grass should receive between 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water weekly, including natural precipitation. Water requirements vary by turf variety, local weather conditions, and site conditions such as shade. Your local university extension office can be a good source of information to assist in understanding local conditions.

The total water applied can be determined by placing a rain gauge or empty tuna cans around your yard prior to an irrigation cycle. Another option is to install a wireless soil moisture sensor, like the Toro Precision Soil Sensor, which fits almost any controller and installs in minutes. This helps eliminate guesswork by continuously monitoring soil moisture levels to prevent the system from overwatering.

Limit Water Intake

Friell says a general rule to keep in mind is that turfgrass does better when managed on the dry side rather than wet. When soil is constantly wet, grass roots are deprived of oxygen and may become more susceptible to disease.

When in Drought

Avoid lawn mowing during heat and drought. Lawns under such stress have limited ability to recover from mowing and can be damaged even more. Instead, mow after a rainfall or irrigation day. Finally, maintaining higher mowing heights will help turf tolerate the heat and drought of summer. Doing so also requires less frequent mowing, which means more time to enjoy your lawn!

Water Rebates

Many cities and water agencies across the U.S. offer water conservation and rebate programs to homeowners to encourage adoption of more efficient irrigation solutions. Find a list of the latest rebates at watersmart.toro.com/rebates/.

You can learn more about proper watering at watersmart.toro.com.

With the right watering techniques, you can save water, money and time while maintaining a healthy lawn.

Research Suggests Serious Video Games May Help Increase Fruit And Vegetable Intake

Grace Baldwin

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May 9, 2016

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Research Suggests Serious Video Games May Help Increase Fruit And Vegetable Intake

Few US children meet daily recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, making fruit and vegetable consumption an important issue for researchers. Eating adequate amounts of these foods is not only ideal for a healthy lifestyle, but has also been shown to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Using a serious video game, Squires Quest! II: Saving the Kingdom of Fivealot, researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture / Agricultural Research Service Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital evaluated how creating implementation intentions (i.e., specific plans) within the goal-setting component in the game helped fourth and fifth grade students improve fruit and vegetable intake at specific meals.

For the study, 400 children played 10 episodes of Squires Quest! II, an online video game that promotes fruit and vegetable intake, in which they either created action or coping implementation intentions, both, or did not create implementation intentions during the goal-setting process to eat fruit and vegetables at specific meals.

All groups were asked to record whether they met their goals during the next episode in the game. Parents were sent emails with a newsletter and link to a parent website. These resources provided parents with information on their child’s weekly goals, suggestions for supporting achievement of fruit and vegetable goals, and ways to overcome common barriers to helping their family make healthy food choices.

To track the effect of the video game on real-life fruit and vegetable consumption at baseline and six months later, researchers completed 24-hour dietary recalls with children over the phone three times, averaging breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner fruit and vegetable intakes. At six months after intervention, improvements in both fruit and vegetable intake were noted for participants.

“By using a serious video game, we saw increases in meal-specific vegetable intake at dinner for the children in the Action and Coping groups and fruit intake at breakfast, lunch, and snacks for all intervention groups,” said lead author Karen Cullen, DrPH, RD, USDA/ARS, Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine.

Of the 400 participants, 79% reported meeting all goals during game play. Researchers attributed this partly to the game content, as serious video games are designed to both entertain and promote behavior change. Likewise, getting parents involved with email and newsletters might also have played a role in the increase in fruit and vegetable intake among participants.

Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables among fourth and fifth grade students via serious video game play showed promising results, but more work must be done to ensure children are meeting their recommended intake. The authors of this study suggest replicating these results elsewhere and including qualitative interviews to further validate and understand the progress found in their study.

CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin Surgical Techs Represent Hospital, State

Misty Boggs

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May 9, 2016

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CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin Surgical Techs Represent Hospital, State

A CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin surgical technologist will spend the next two years representing her profession and her state after being elected to the Association of Surgical Technologists Board of Directors for the Texas State Assembly.

Stefanie Vaughn, certified surgical technologist for the past 15 years, and service line team leader for orthopedics, neurology and podiatry, was elected by a large collection of her peers during the Texas State Assembly held in March.

As one of only 9 board members from across the state, Stefanie will help organize continuing education opportunities to advance the knowledge and skills base of practicing surgical technologists and surgical assistants through local state based workshops. She will also represent the state of Texas during the national conference at the end of May and provide lobbying support for fellow professionals.

Surgical technologists serve as an integral part of the surgical team by preparing the operating room, including the sterile field, and setting up surgical equipment, supplies and solutions. During surgery, surgical technologists pass instruments, fluids and supplies to the surgeon and prepare and manage surgical equipment.

“We have to know the instruments and what they’re used for. We have to anticipate the surgeon’s needs so we need to understand the surgery, as well,” Vaughn said. “We need to know each step of the surgical process so we can immediately have what the surgeon needs. We don’t want there to be any delay. We are involved in saving lives, and it’s a wonderful job.”

After the procedure, the surgical technologist is responsible for performing a count of sponges and supplies to prevent anything being left behind.

System Manager for Sterile Processing Cheryl Green, CRCST, was one of the select keynote speakers during the AST Texas State Assembly in March and addressed the importance of sterile processing in the OR.

“We are the heart and soul of surgery because without us surgery doesn’t work,” Green said. “We are the first step in prevention of any surgical site infections or diseases.”

Both Vaughn and Green plan to use their experience from the state conference to help raise awareness about the important role surgical technologists play in the operating room.

“It’s never the same thing every day; you learn something new every day,” Vaughn said. “The biggest thing that I love about my job is knowing that I have helped someone in a significant way, and helping make them better so they can get back to a more normal life. I am thrilled to serve in this new role and help others like myself learn more about this incredible profession.”

Paris Takes Down Roadrunners In Series Opener

Gary Stallard

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May 9, 2016

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Paris Takes Down Roadrunners In Series Opener

Of the Paris College Dragons’ 14 hits against Angelina College on Friday, no more than five were of the hard-hit variety.

Angelina College shortstop Tony Lima goes airborne to make a throw from deep in the hole during Friday’s game against Paris College at Roadrunner Field. The Dragons held off AC 8-5 in the opening game of a series scheduled to resume on Saturday. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)

The Dragons dinked and dunked the rest of their hits with an array of bloopers and bleeders to take down the Roadrunners 8-5 in the opening game of a three-game series at Roadrunner Field in Lufkin.

Paris is attempting to leave Lufkin with a sweep, hoping to jump the ‘Runners in the final standings. AC will need one win in Saturday’s doubleheader, the regular-season finale, to secure the third spot in the upcoming conference tournament.

Mitchell Andrews knocked a two-run homer in the second inning for AC, and Dustin West, Chase Adams and Mitch Henshaw each drove in runs for the Roadrunners.

Paris’ Matthew Nemecek lofted a solo homer just over the left-field wall in the fifth inning, and the Dragons scored twice in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. AC tied things up at 5-5 on Henshaw’s groundout in the seventh, only to see Paris get an RBI bloop single from Chad Hardy in the eighth and two runs on a bunt single, an error and a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

The teams resume play on Saturday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. The Roadrunners will celebrate Sophomore Day with a pre-game celebration just before the opener.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Videogame addiction: Sleep loss, obesity, and cardiovascular risk for some gamers

Misty Boggs

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May 9, 2016

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Videogame addiction: Sleep loss, obesity, and cardiovascular risk for some gamers

Some children and youth with high videogame addiction tendencies may be at risk of sleep deprivation and disorders associated with obesity and poor cardio-metabolic health, Hamilton researchers have found.

The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, examines the growing global gaming phenomenon and its impact on youth health.

Dr. Katherine Morrison, co-author of the study, worked with researchers from McMaster and California State University, Fullerton. She is an associate professor of pediatrics for McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist with the McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Her team’s findings are serious, given the rise in videogame addictions, she said.

“This is an important phenomenon to understand. We are seeing that some children and teens develop serious addiction-like symptoms to video games,” said Morrison. “It affects a vulnerable population of children and youth, can impact social interactions amongst youth and, as our research shows, can drive health issues.”

For their research, the team studied a group of children and teens ages 10 to 17 who were in lifestyle management programs – either for weight management or lipid disorders. The study looked at whether the videogame habits of the group had an impact on sleep habits, obesity and cardio-metabolic health.

Using fitness trackers, the team monitored the sleep duration and compared that to the youth’s videogame usage. The data showed that videogame addiction symptoms resulted in shorter sleep which, in turn, was related to elevated blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high insulin resistance.

It is important to note that this was a specific group of children and teens, added Morrison, and it is unknown if this information applies to the general population.

“That said, we were amazed that amongst gamers, videogame addiction scores explained one third of the differences in sleep duration,” said Morrison. “Sleep is emerging as a critical behavior for cardio-metabolic health, and this data shows that gaming addictions can cause numerous health issues in at least a segment of the population.”

“Childhood obesity tracks into adulthood and obese children face a greater risk of cardiovascular and coronary diseases as well as type-2 diabetes as adults. It is urgent to target early lifestyle behaviours such as videogame addictive tendencies that could lead to major future health consequences.”

Morrison said the research team is in the early days of evaluating videogame addiction in children and teens. They plan on studying the effects in general populations while also analyzing video game usage and addiction tendencies of gamers over time.

Roadrunners Clinch Third Seed With DH Sweep Of Paris

Gary Stallard

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May 9, 2016

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Roadrunners Clinch Third Seed With DH Sweep Of Paris

AC’s Bats Drive Team into Conference Tournament

Cort McPherson of Angelina College leans into his two-run homer in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader against Paris College. The Roadrunners clinched the East Zone’s third seed with a 7-5, 15-9 sweep at Roadrunner Field. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)

Angelina College’s Roadrunners closed out the regular season at home on Saturday with a bang – a whole lot of them.

Needing one win in two tries in the day’s twin bill with Paris College to lock down the East Zone’s third seed for the upcoming conference tournament, the Roadrunners eliminated the drama early with a 7-5 win in the opener, following that with a 15-9 win in the nightcap at Roadrunner Field.

Cort McPherson ripped a two-run homer in the first game and followed up with a two-run triple in the late one. Alex Walker added a three-run shot in the late win to help break open a 9-9 tie.

AC trailed 1-0 when McPherson followed Dustin West’s long double off the wall with his seventh homer of the season, launching the ball over the right-field wall.

In the fourth inning, AC’s Chris Estrada drove home two more runs with a bloop double, scoring ahead of Mitch Henshaw’s two-bagger to the wall in left center.

Third baseman Chris Estrada fires the ball across the infield after fielding a ground ball during Saturday’s doubleheader with Paris College. The Roadrunners clinched the East Zone’s third seed with a 7-5, 15-9 sweep at Roadrunner Field. (AC Press photo by Gary Stallard)

McPherson added another RBI in the sixth with a hit-and-run single, and AC led 7-2 heading into the seventh.

Paris put a scare into the home crowd by scoring three runs in the top of the inning, cutting the ‘Runners’ lead to two at 7-5; but reliever Jared Velasco came on to record the final out to leave AC with the third seed.

Carson Lance earned the win on the mound after allowing two runs over his five innings of work.

The team celebrated Sophomore Day prior to the first game, recognizing those Roadrunners appearing in their final home games. Those included Zach Rome, Dustin West, Alex Walker, Elijah Rodriguez, Daniel Lingua, Reid Garrett, Cort McPherson, Cameron Williams, Chris Estrada, Kevin Roe, Carson Lance and Mitch Henshaw.

The tentative bracket for the Region XIV Conference Tournament has AC facing Alvin College at 1 p.m. on Friday. The tournament takes place at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

ANGELINA ARTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 2016-17 Season “Live from Lufkin…”

Arts & Culture

Josh Robinson

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May 6, 2016

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ANGELINA ARTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 2016-17 Season “Live from Lufkin…”

LUFKIN, TX: Angelina Arts Alliance will present their upcoming 2016-2017 Performing Arts Series to the public today at 12 noon at the Lufkin / Angelina County Chamber of Commerce First Friday luncheon at Crown Colony Country Club. This will be their 16th season and the 16th year of presenting professional live performing arts events in Lufkin. In conjunction with the 2016-2017 season announcement season ticket subscriptions go on sale. Being a season ticket holder means having the same seat – guaranteed – for all seven performances in the Performing Arts Series, and never having to wait in line hoping to get tickets only to learn a performance is sold out. Besides a bona fide Country & Western icon, this season includes two show genres that have never before been seen here in Lufkin on the Temple Theater stage. The 2016-2017 season of attractions is sure to thrill longtime audience members and newcomers alike, with an enticing mix of outstanding artists. Angelina Arts Alliance is proud to present the 2016-2017 season along with season sponsors Georgia Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.

The 16th Anniversary Performing Arts Series opens September 18th, 2016 with ILLUSINIST RICK THOMAS. Rick Thomas is a premier illusionist having completed five world tours covering over 50 countries. High honors include the coveted “Magician of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts and “Stage Magician of the Year” by the World Magic Awards. Thomas performs the most intriguing and innovative grand illusions in the world with a style unlike any other magical entertainer. His stage presence is unmatched as he weaves magic, music and dance into a seamless spectacle. Thomas is the first illusionist to perform for an Arts Alliance audience.

October 25th, 2016, THE FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Making Beautiful Music, will be the first full symphony orchestra to ever appear on the Temple Theater stage. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has transcended the dream held by its founders in 1912 when they assembled a group of musicians to create what is now one of the community’s greatest assets. The orchestra performs an impressive 200 concerts each year for an audience of 250,000 adults and children from all walks of life. The orchestra’s annual summer music festival, Concerts in the Garden, has grown to be one of the largest and most successful summer outdoor festivals of its kind in Texas, attracting an annual audience of 40,000.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 / 7:30 PM, JIMMY WEBB – America’s Songwriter, a true living legend of songwriting takes the Temple Theater stage. Jimmy Webb’s been crafting amazing songs, many of which have become cherished standards, for some forty years. Though some might still not know his name, they know the songs: “Wichita Lineman,” “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” “Galveston,” “The Highwayman,” “Up, Up and Away,” “MacArthur Park,” and many more. His songs have been recorded or performed by the best including Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, and Carly Simon. Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration and was the youngest man ever inducted into the National Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

For the holidays come see country & western superstar, WYNONNA JUDD – A Simpler Christmas, Saturday, December 17, 2016 / 7:30 PM. Wynonna’s career has always revolved around telling stories. Whether she’s using her rich, commanding voice to sing one of her countless hits or sitting down for a bold, honest appearance on a talk show, Wynonna is spell-binding. A five-time GRAMMY winner, Wynonna’s own journey as one half of legendary duo The Judds with her mother Naomi Judd provides on of the most fascinating stories in country music history. With chart toppers like “Why Not Me” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)”, The Judds were unstoppable picking up multiple GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Awards and selling more than 20 million albums along the way. In 1994, Wynonna received the coveted Top Female Vocalist of the Year trophy at the ACM Awards. Her Christmas concert features traditional favorites like “O Holy Night” and “Ave Maria” as well as all the holiday favorites that will keep you in the spirit of the season.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 / 7:30 PM BAREFOOT IN THE PARK – Montana Repertory Theatre a comedy of the heart comes to Lufkin. Fifty years ago Montana Rep began; just over fifty years ago Barefoot in the Park was produced on Broadway, jumpstarting the career of a true giant in American playwriting; Neil Simon. It seems fitting to honor the play this season that put Neil Simon on the map, and celebrate 50 years with one of the best theatre companies in the country; Montana Repertory Theatre. Paul Bratter is Mister Straight. Corie is his new wife, who dedicates her life to the pursuit of fun. The ecstasy of the honeymoon gives way to the reality of setting up housekeeping in a five-flight walk-up apartment in Greenwich Village. The harmony of marriage turns to comical discord. This Neil Simon classic was made into a film in 1967 starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, and like the best romantic comedies, explores love, relationship, family, marriage, the pangs of loss, and the joy of reunion.

Big and bold and another classic performance – 42nd STREET – Broadway National Tour, Sunday, March 19, 2017 / 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM for two performance. The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic, 42nd Street is the song and dance fable of Broadway with an American Dream story and includes some of the greatest songs ever written, such as “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “I Only Have Eyes For You”, and of course “42nd Street.” Based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, 42nd Street tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her Allentown home and comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star. With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin – This sparkling new production was directed by co- author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award- winning Best Musical Revival. Come and meet those dancing feet, and rediscover some classic show tunes along the way!

Saturday, May 20, 2017 / 7:30 PM, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound comes back to the Temple Theater in Inspiration of Broadway, featuring J. Mark McVey. From its formation in 2003, Ernie Haase has built Signature Sound into one of the most popular and beloved quartets in all Southern Gospel music. The group has traveled all over the world, offering energy, excitement and encouragement through its powerful brand of gospel music. They continue to gain fans all around the globe with their unique performances and unmistakable four-part harmony. Now, with the incredible vocal talents of J. Mark McVey, from Broadway’s Les Miserables’, “The Inspiration of Broadway” is thrilling audiences with their fresh take on the most beloved music of the Broadway stage. This is truly an uplifting night for people of all ages and includes songs from virtually every hot Broadway show, done with incomparable 5 part harmonies.

The 2016-2017 season celebrates the children with two Family Fundays; The Aluminum Show, Sunday October 30th, and Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, Sunday, January 15, 2017.

Apply for season subscriptions at the Temple Theater box office weekdays, 11 am -5 pm, or call

936-633-5454 for more information. For more information, about the upcoming 2016-2017 season visit the Angelina Arts Alliance website at www.angelinaarts.org and follow us on Facebook for up to the minute news and ticket giveaways.

Roadrunners Closing out Regular Season at Home with Paris Series

Sports

Gary Stallard

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May 6, 2016

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Roadrunners Closing out Regular Season at Home with Paris Series

With their thrilling, dog pile-inducing win over Northeast Texas Community College on Tuesday night, the Angelina College Roadrunners got the hard part of the journey out of the way.

By no means are the ‘Runners coasting into the season’s final three games.

Angelina College catcher Mitchell Andrews, shown here fielding a bunt against Northeast Texas Community College, leads the Roadrunners into the weekend’s regular season-ending, three-game series against Paris College. Having clinched a post-season berth with Tuesday’s win, the ‘Runners will try and lock down the third seed in the upcoming conference tournament. (Photo by Gary Stallard)

AC capped a three-game sweep of the Eagles with a wild, seven-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, getting the game-winning RBI from Alex Walker in AC’s 10-9 win. When Chase Adams stomped the plate for the final run, the Roadrunners clinched a spot in next week’s Region XIV Conference Tournament in Sugar Land.

Beginning today, AC will close out the regular season by hosting Paris College. Perhaps in another season, these final contests would be meaningless for a team having already secured its place in the post season, but now the Roadrunners are fighting for a higher seed. They certainly can’t expect the Dragons to cooperate.

Paris enters the weekend two games back of AC. The Roadrunner can clinch the third seed in the East Zone by winning just one of the three games. However, a sweep on the wrong end allows the Dragons to vault into the third spot while dropping Angelina College into the fourth position.

Giving even more motivation to Paris is a Bossier Parish team hovering a single game back of Paris. The Cavaliers close out the season against NTCC hoping for the chance to overtake Paris and eliminate the Dragons from playoff contention.

Three games remaining in the regular season, and more than enough drama to last until the final out.

The Roadrunners host Paris on Friday in a single, nine-inning game starting at 3 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. The Roadrunners will celebrate Sophomore Day prior to Saturday’s opening game.