By GARY STALLARD
AC Athletics
The 2017 Angelina College softball team shattered the program record for wins in a season with 45.
Duplicating the feat in 2018 is going to be a challenge – not because the team can’t win, but because they haven’t been able to play at all.
Relentless rainfall has limited the Lady Roadrunners to just five games thus far. Since the season-opening Cowtown Tournament in Fort Worth all the way back at the beginning of February – the team went 4-1 in those two days – AC has yet to play another team in a real competition. Other tournaments scheduled over the past two weeks also were washouts, as was the hoped-for home opener against Jarvis Christian College this past Sunday.
Finally, however, the Lady ‘Runners finally are going to play at home…sort of.
AC booked a doubleheader against Lamar State College-Port Arthur for a Monday evening doubleheader, and with its own field still too muddy for play, coaches reached out to Hudson High School. The Lady Hornet softball team this year installed a turf field, and the staff generously agreed to host the Lady Roadrunners and the Lady Seahawks.
For the home team, those games will offer fans a first look at the new squad. AC’s ladies feature a bevy of new faces, with just four sophomores returning from last season: Ashley Hallmark, Morgan Conner, Taylor Lenggenhager and Reygan White. Two sophomores – Kiriany Hornberger and Leigh Luker – transferred this year.
The remainder of the roster features 12 freshmen, but those players have already shown they’re ready to make an impact. In the season opener, Emilee Cernosek and Brette Kohring homered to back Luker’s shutout in the circle for a 3-0 win over Seward County Community College. In a 12-5 win over El Paso CC, Rachel Agnello launched a three-run homer. And in the 4-3 win over Allen County, Shelby Mixon, Jessica Husband and Nikki Gonzales each doubled while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Mixon also was the winning pitcher in two of the tournament games.
Monday’s first game is scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. start, with the nightcap taking place immediately afterward.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
