There was plenty going on all week in Angelina College Athletics, but the big news was Lady Roadrunner basketball coach Byron Coleman achieving a major milestone: With Saturday’s win over Kilgore College, Coleman earned his 300th career win as a head coach – all with Angelina College.
Now in his 18th year – with a year off during the pandemic – Coleman has averaged a remarkable 17.5 wins per season. He’s taken one Lady ‘Runner team to the national tournament, and in a testament to his consistency, his teams have never missed out on the conference tournament.
Congratulations to Coach Coleman.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball:
AC’s ladies had the night off on Wednesday, and appeared to lag a little in Saturday’s home game against Kilgore College. The Lady ‘Runners fell behind 10-0 to open the game, leaving some to wonder whether Byron Coleman would have to wait another day for win #300.
Instead, the Lady Roadrunners showed their resilience, rallying for a 67-53 win over Kilgore College.
Every single Lady ‘Runner added to the scoresheet, with Taylor Jarrels leading the team with 14 points. Shanbriah Rule added 12 points, and Marie Kenembeni just missed out on another double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Matilda Gordon contributed 12 boards in the win, while Makenzie Paul added nine points.
The Lady Roadrunners (12-9, 5-4) travel to Jacksonville College on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. start; AC’s ladies will be at Paris College on Saturday for a game scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
Roadrunner Basketball:
Having experience tough going on the road all season, the Roadrunner men picked up their first win outside of the Palace in the Pines (Shands Gymnasium) with a 62-56 win at Jacksonville College on Tuesday.
On Saturday, however, the ‘Runners ran into a strong Blinn College team and fell 76-58 at Shands Gymnasium – just the Roadrunners’ second loss at home all season.
In Saturday’s loss, Hugi Hallgrimsson – whose parents were visiting all the way from Iceland to see him in action as a Roadrunner for the first time – scored 13 points, hitting three of his five three-point attempts. Patrick Johnson also added 13 points; Xavier Owens and Kanaan Holder added 12 points each.
The ‘Runners (11-12, 5-8) play just one game this week: A home stand against Coastal Bend Community College on Wednesday scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff. AC has an open date on Saturday, February 11.
Roadrunner Baseball:
AC’s baseball team dealt with a strange week indeed, with so many rainouts and reschedules leaving the team scrambling for playing times – and locations.
The Roadrunners “hosted” Galveston College in a doubleheader on Friday at Lufkin High School. The twin bill was moved to LHS to take advantage of the artificial turf after the past week’s deluge left Poland Field slightly soggy.
Galveston swept AC 3-1 and 7-3 on Friday.
On Sunday, the Roadrunners were in Galveston for the Galveston Invite. The ‘Runners nearly pulled off a late-inning rally against the Whitecaps in the early game, eventually falling 9-7. Heladio Moreno went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the loss; Dalton Mullins also added three hits while driving in a run.
In the nightcap against Temple College, AC notched its first win (3-1 over the Leopards) of the season behind strong pitching performances from Jordan Belin, who didn’t allow a run over three and two-thirds innings, and Peyton Fosher, who gave up just one earned run in three and one-third innings. Mario Mendoza, Dalton Mullins and Jaxon Hansen drove in the three runs for the win.
Sunday’s win moved head coach Jeff Livin even closer to a major milestone. Livin now sits just 15 wins away from his 800th career win as a head coach.
The Roadrunners are at Temple College on Wednesday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. before returning home on Friday for a twin bill against TCS Post Grad. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Lady Roadrunner Softball:
AC’s diamond ladies are so anxious to play some softball this week they were taking infield and outfield practice on the turf of the soccer field. An entire weekend of home games – including Saturday’s and Sunday’s Angelina Invite – fell victim to the week’s rains.
This week, the Lady ‘Runners are scheduled to open their regular season (finally) on Wednesday at Louisiana State University – Eunice in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. The Lady ‘Runners then will travel to Mount Pleasant on Friday to face Northeast Texas Community College in two games starting at 1 p.m.
The lack of playing time didn’t prevent the Lady Roadrunners from making the news. AC sophomore pitcher Morgan Louviere signed her letter of intent to play for Louisiana Christian University beginning in the fall of 2023.
NOTE: Both Angelina College baseball and softball teams are on Game Changer for those wanting to follow the action live – even on the road.
