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Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

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(Dinner at the Diamond photos by Elliott Winston and Maryane Pala)

Hey, sports fans,

What a week for Angelina College Athletics. Our soccer teams played some big matches way down in Brownsville, Texas, our softball team got off to a great start to its fall season and our baseball team is hitting spots all over the country in an effort to showcase its players.

We had softball ladies volunteering at the East Texas Forest Festival, helping promote our student-athletes and their commitment to the community. 

The BIG event of this past week was our annual Dinner at the Diamond fundraiser, and our student-athletes worked hard to ensure everything wasn’t just successful, but a lot of fun as well. 

The lone home game for this coming week is a big one, with our Roadrunner soccer team hosting conference foe Coastal Bend Community College in a key Region XIV conference match taking place this Tuesday. 

We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.  

Here’s a quick rundown of recent events, along with what’s coming up next: 

Lady Roadrunners Soccer Scores win at Texas Southmost College

The Lady Roadrunners picked up a big road win Friday in Brownsville, topping Texas Southmost College by a 4-1 final. AC’s ladies got goals from Nuria Grau (’35), Patricia Torres (’71), Lucrezia Benelli Becchi (’74) and Victoria Ibanez (’88) to earn the big conference “W.” Gisela Oyonate and Grau each added an assist in the match, AC keeper Samuela Valeri finished with four saves.  

Next up for the Lady Roadrunners (4-6, 4-4) is a big home match against Louisiana State University-Eunice. Kickoff on Friday, Oct. 6 is at 5 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. 

Roadrunner Soccer Plays Texas Southmost to Draw 

In Brownsville on Friday, the Roadrunners battled Texas Southmost College to a 2-2 draw, getting goals from Angel Benitez and Kanta Maruyama. 

That result makes this Tuesday’s home match even bigger.

The Roadrunners (3-2-2, 3-1-2) maintains its hold atop the Region XIV South Zone standings, but only by a single game over Coastal Bend Community College (3-3-1, 3-2-1) – AC’s opponent on Tuesday. 

The match is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. 

Lady Roadrunner Softball Shines in Fall Opener

The fall season is for evaluating talent in order to finalize the regular-season rosters in the spring.

Clearly, Lady Roadrunner head softball coach Kassie James is going to have plenty of options.

The Lady ‘Runners opened their Fall 2026 season this past Friday, sweeping Nelson University in a doubleheader in Waxahachie. 

AC took the opener by an 11-3 final behind a three-hit day from Kinlyn Mills, who also drove in a pair of runs. Alyssa Leger also added a pair of RBI. AC used three pitchers in the game, with Alexa Beeson starting in the circle, followed by relievers Rylee Puente and Ellas Stephenson. Puente tossed three innings of scoreless relief, and Stephenson wrapped up with a scoreless two innings of work that included three strikeouts. 

In the nightcap, Madagyn Boudoin’s two-run homer led the Lady Roadrunners to a 7-1 win. Four AC pitchers combined to hold Nelson to just one run on four hits. Reighlyn Jefferson started the game, and Kennadee Sheffield, Eris Aiken and Kourtney Sepulvado cleaned up in relief. 

This week’s schedule will see the Lady Roadrunners at Texas A&M University-Texarkana on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

Roadrunner Basketball Opens Scrimmage Season This Week

The Roadrunner men’s basketball team is driving straight into its scrimmage portion of the season, with AC heading to the Oklahoma JUCO Jamboree taking place on Friday in Norman, Oklahoma.

The ‘Runners get a trifecta of competition on Friday, playing Odessa College at 3 p.m., Western Oklahoma Community College at 5 p.m. and Johnson County Community College at 7 p.m.

AC’s first home scrimmage will take place on Friday, Oct. 16 against Strength ‘N Motion, with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium. 

AC Athletes Assist with Dinner at the Diamond 2026

This year’s Dinner at the Diamond event proved wildly successful (again), and Angelina College student-athletes played big roles in the night’s success.

The athletes did everything from setting up and breaking down, greeting visitors, conducting contests and serving up auction items, all while mingling with their current and future fans. 

Those players helped make an already-fun event even better just by being there. 

Basketball Schedules Available for Viewing

We’re still a couple of months away from the start of basketball season, but the Roadrunner and Lady Roadrunner teams already have their 2026-2027 schedules in place. Visit the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view those schedules. 

Hoops season is going to get here before we know it. 

For those who just can’t wait to know, the Lady Roadrunners tip off their regular season Oct. 30 in Baton Rouge against Delgado Community College, following with another game on Saturday against Baton Rouge Community College – also taking place in Baton Rouge. The Lady ‘Runners host their first home game on Nov. 6 against Southern University-Shreveport.

On the men’s side, the Roadrunners open their new regular season with a home game against Strength ‘N Motion on Nov. 2 at Shands Gymnasium.

Here are the links to both teams’ schedules:

Lady Roadrunners’ basketball 2026-2027 schedule:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true

Roadrunner men’s basketball 2026-2027 schedule:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true

AC Baseball, Softball Fall Schedules:

The Roadrunner baseball team will open its Fall 2026 schedule this week with an away game against Alvin Community College. The ‘Runners and Dolphins will square off at Lamar University in Beaumont, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. 

Here are the fall schedules for both the Roadrunner baseball and Lady Roadrunner softball teams. NOTE: These are exhibition games, so there won’t be any live streaming available, nor will there be stats or final scores posted. 

Roadrunner Baseball Fall 2026 schedule:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/bsb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true

Lady Roadrunner Softball Fall 2026 schedule:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/sball/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true

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: 

Tuesday, Sept. 29:

Roadrunner Soccer vs. Coastal Bend Community College, 6 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. 

Friday, Oct. 2:

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Northwest Mississippi CC (11 a.m.) and Mineral Area College (3:45 p.m.) in Millington, TN.

Roadrunner Basketball at Odessa College (3 p.m.), Western Oklahoma Community College (5 p.m.) and Johnson County Community College (7 p.m.), Oklahoma JUCO Jamboree in Norman, OK. 

Saturday, Oct. 3:

Lady Roadrunner Softball at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, 1 p.m. in Texarkana, TX. 

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

Free Workshop and Networking (Jasper County)

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September 29 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us tomorrow evening for a free small-business workshop and networking opportunity!

Whether you’re already running a business or thinking about starting one, this workshop can help you understand why businesses get stuck and how to move forward. You’ll learn practical growth strategies, ways to access funding, how to strengthen your team, and steps you can take next.

Tuesday, September 29

5:30–7:00 p.m.

J.H. Rowe Resource Center, Building 1
750 E. Gibson Street, Jasper, TX 75951

The workshop is free, but registration is encouraged. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register.

Questions? Contact Leanna Hopson at (260) 415-1700 or leanna@jasperchamber.com. 

C.A.S.T. For Kids (Sabine County)

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September 28 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The 2nd Annual C.A.S.T. for Kids on Toledo Bend is happening September 30!

We’re welcoming 40 local children with special needs for a morning of fishing, boat rides, games, and lunch. To learn more, contact: Alissa Ross • 936‑671‑0175.

Fall Festival And Trunk or Treat (Tyler County)

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October 31 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Location: Lake Tejas in Colmesneil, TX
Date & Time: October 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Once again, if you have a fall festival, or halloween event, please email us you flyer so we can post on the Chamber Visit Tyler County website. Email to chamber@tylercountycoc.com

4-H Photography Project Meeting (San Jacinto County)

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October 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: San Jacinto County Extension Office
Date & Time: October 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

National Night Out (Jasper County)

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October 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The City of Jasper Police Department‘s National Night Out will be Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This is a free event for the whole family.

There will be live music, food, games, activities, giveaways, and local vendors. Come meet your local officers. Bring a friend. Tell a friend about it. Spread the word. We look forward to seeing you there.

Blindness Awareness Walk (Houston County)

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October 3 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Blindness Awareness Walk

Come and join us for our Blindness Awareness Walk on October 3rd at The Grapeland Senior Citizens Center. Registration begins ar 9:00 AM and the walk will begin at 10:00 AM.
For more information, call Diane @ 903.373.4551

Capitol Update: Preparing for the Next State Budget

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For most of us, September means settling into school routines, making plans around Friday night football, and looking forward to the fall months ahead. At the Capitol, it also marks the beginning of a new fiscal year and an important stretch of preparation for the next legislative session.

Texas began a new fiscal year on September 1, entering the second year of our current two-year budget. While agencies carry out the responsibilities funded by that budget, preparations are underway for the 2028–2029 biennium. Developing a sound state budget requires months of careful review, weighing the cost of maintaining essential services against emerging needs and the long-term commitments those decisions create.

That review is underway at the Capitol this month, where state agencies are presenting their funding requests in joint budget hearings. Legislative Budget Board staff and the Governor’s budget office examine those requests, ask questions about agency operations, and assess the need for additional resources.

These hearings help lay the groundwork for the budget the Legislature will consider when we reconvene in January. With that process now moving forward, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some of the principles that will guide my approach.

As we begin that work, I believe we must always remember that the dollars entrusted to us come from hardworking Texans. Families and small businesses across our district budget carefully, set priorities, and live within their means. They deserve a state government that approaches its responsibilities with the same care and discipline.

That means keeping spending in check, eliminating waste, and expecting agencies to explain how their requests will benefit the people they serve. We also have a responsibility to ensure essential services have the resources to do their jobs well. A thoughtful, conservative budget takes those needs seriously while protecting the taxpayers who make that work possible.

This month’s hearing schedule includes agencies responsible for water infrastructure, health care, education, and emergency preparedness. These issues matter a great deal to East and Southeast Texas, where state and local partners often work together to meet needs a small community could not afford to address on its own.

Whether it’s helping a rural community improve its water system or ensuring firefighters have the equipment they need, I want to know that the dollars we approve are reaching their intended purpose. Careful budgeting requires us to consider both the cost of an investment and the need it will address.

When we return to Austin, the House and Senate will consider these requests alongside the Comptroller’s estimate of available revenue and work toward a final two-year budget. I will remain focused on protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring our schools, law enforcement, and other essential services have the resources they need. I look forward to working with my colleagues on a fiscally conservative budget that addresses the needs of East and Southeast Texas and reflects our region’s values and priorities. 

The mobile office is on the road again in September, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates at the following times: October 14 the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; October 21 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, and my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening at your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.

Drug-Free All Stars Meeting with Lufkin Parks and Recreation

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Front row, from left to right: Raya Timoteo, Taylor Crocker, Kate Goodman, Piper Early, and Danica Bell. Second row, from left to right: Savannah Kezar, Spring Havard, Katia Zapata, Brianna Colvin, Julieth Cura, Maddy Hernandez, and Sydney Acosta. Third row, from left to right: Caiden Goetzman, Litzy Velasquez, Jely Contreras, Katie Williams, Lola Lawrence, Mia Mitchell, and Emily Luna. Fourth row, from left to right: Landon Courtney, Jaydn Holmes, Antonia Lin, Riley Brown, Robert Richards, McKenna Hooks, Julia Cherry, Regina Hill, Sidra Khurshid, Aasiyah Khan, Mary Michael Todd, and Drug-Free All Star Coordinator Reagan Strother. Back row, left to right: Deputy Director of Recreation for Lufkin Parks and Recreation Rudy Flores, Bayleigh Lebel, Kayla Rodgers, Maci Nesbett, Genesis Camacho, Wesley Bennett, Samantha Moulder, Aaron Simpson, Aaliyah Martinez, Jeremiah Martinez, Maddox Frankens, Adeline Allen, Rolando Gonzalaz, Corbyn Brent, Miler Stewart, and Cole Jones.

The Drug-Free All Stars of Angelina County, funded by a grant from TxDOT, recently held their September meeting at Lufkin Parks and Recreation. The Drug-Free All Stars are a group of high school seniors from Angelina County schools that serve as role models for the community by living tobacco, drug, and alcohol-free lives. During the meeting, the Drug-Free All Stars planned campus activities for the year, focusing on substance use prevention campaigns and awareness. Special thanks to Rudy Flores, Deputy Director of Recreation, and former Drug-Free All Star, for speaking with the All Stars on the importance of their involvement with the program. Thank you also to the City of Lufkin for allowing the Drug-Free All Stars to meet at the Lufkin Parks and Recreation Center.  To find out more about the Drug-Free All Star program, contact Reagan Strother at (936) 634-9308 or by email at rstrother@angelinacoalition.org. Visit our website at www.angelinacoalition.org or follow @TheCoalition936 on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community.

Salsa Slam Competition (Sabine County

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October 17 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

2nd Annual Salsa Slam Competition
Bring the heat, win the crowd, claim the crown!
Takes place at the Sabine County Youth Foundation BBQ Cookoff

Location: Rodeo Arena in Hemphill
Date & Time: October 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM

No charge to enter
Call (512) 576-7747