ATHLETIC REUNION

Roadrunner athletes return for alumni games & luncheon

Former Angelina College basketball and baseball players returned to AC in October for a reunion and a chance to play Roadrunner basketball and baseball again while also renewing old friendships.

Coaches for the games included Don Wilson and Bill Berry for the baseball teams, Mo Oliver and Cecil Ferguson for the Roadrunner basketball teams and Marcus Carroll and Marcus Wiley for the Lady Runner basketball teams.

Athletes who arrived by noon on Oct. 4 watched the current Roadrunner baseball team play a fall baseball game against Temple on Roadrunner Field.

Many of the returning players had helped build Roadrunner Field and many had never played in Shands Gym in the new Activity Center.

They could take their families to see "Young Cherokee," a children's play performed that evening by the Fine Arts Division in the new Angelina Center for the Arts.

The alumni baseball game was played on Oct. 5. Baseball players who attended the alumni game were Lionel Adams, Ernest Arciniegas, Toby Childress, Earl Jackson, Jimmy Jones, Tony Metoyer, Gary W. Singer, Zach Stephens, Bud Weathers, Jerry Winfield, Mike Akridge, Ronald Bay, Ricky Gobert, Charlie Kimmey, Drew Noss, Gary Smith, Arthur Lee Jenkins, Keith Weathers, Jason Alston, Ryan Berry, Mitch Hall, Ronnie King, Donnie Randell, Marshall Stephens, Chris Vallette, Curtis Pounds and Benjamin Wilson.

They were cheered by some former cheerleaders, dingbats and a tennis player, including Jennifer Redden-Reinhardt, Betty Stewart Lewing, Natalie Johnson and Steve Faggard.

Roadrunner basketball players who returned for the games were Marcus Carroll, Derrick Gray, Neil McGilvra, John Mouton, Lawrence Purke, Jim Sandridge, Dee Yarbrough, Larry Beard, Rodney Darden, Chris Hagan, Edwin Mitchell, Derrick Pendland, Dr. Manfred Quentel, Scotty Washington, Dushon Goff, Tyron Harris, Dr. Terry Moore, Curtis Pounds ( who was injured in the baseball game and benched during the basketball game), Gregory Roberson and Marcus Wiley (trainer).

The current Lady Runners filled out the teams for the Ladies who were short a few players to make two teams. Lady Runners who returned were Shane Ash, Teresa Boykin, Linda Cheeney, Jennifer Evans, Catina Henson, Sheila J. Walker, Rejetta Blake, Yaronda Broussard, Mia Cook, Renishia Finney, Jennifer Smith, Toy K. Buckley, Chondra Brown, Tanya Davis, Vanessa Hackney and Shalamar Spears.

The alumni were welcomed at a luncheon in the AC Cafeteria by Dr. Larry Phillips, president of the college; Coach Guy Davis, athletic director; Coach Dwan Coleman, Lady Runner basketball coach; and Coach Jeff Livin, Roadrunner baseball coach.

Cook's team wins series

Dennis Cook who played baseball for Coach Bill Berry at Angelina College in 1981-1983 won his second World Series ring on Oct. 17 when the Anaheim Angels beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 in game seven.

He played for the Florida Marlins in 1997 when they won the World Series. He also played in the World Series with the New York Mets in 2000 when they lost to the New York Yankees. In the 1997 World Series, Cook won game two against the Cleveland Indians.

Back problems have limited Cook's playing time this year. He did not play during the post-season and pitched only four innings this past season.

Anaheim is the eighth major league baseball team with which Cook has played during his career. He has played for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Texas. The San Diego Padres drafted Cook in 1983, but he never played for that team. 

After he graduated from Angelina College, he played for the University of Texas. At UT, he was drafted by San Francisco and made his debut with San Francisco in 1988. He entered the minor league as a right fielder and pitcher. In the major league, he pitches.

Photos

Click on the photos to see a larger version.

Dr. Larry Phillips, president of the college, confers with Don Wilson and Bill Berry, former baseball coaches who came back to coach the alumni baseball game. The white team beat the blue team, 8-5 after a sizzling six-run second inning.	Lady Runner Alumni included (back row, from left) Vanessa Hackney, Tanya Davis, Linda Parson Cheeney, Mia Cook, Regetta Edwards Blake, Shanna Ash and Renesha Finney. Bottom row, Jennifer Evans, Teresa Boykins and Toy Knight. The white team beat the orange team, 55-28.
Alumni baseball players included (front row from left) Chris Vallette, Drew Noss, Mitch Hall, Charlie Kimmey, Jason Alston, Tony Metoyer, Ronnie King, Benjamin Wilson, Mike Akridge, Jimmy Jones and Ernest Arciniegas. Back row, Bill Berry, Jerry Winfield, Marshall Stevens, Earl Jackson, Keith Weathers, Ryan Berry, Arthur Adams, Ronnie Bay, Curtis Pounds, Donnie Randell, Gary Smith, Lionel Adams, Bud Weathers and Don Wilson.	Blue Team Alumni basketball players included  (back row from left)  Dee Yarbrough, Greg Roberson, Dr. Terry Moore, Johnny Ross, Chris Hagan and Marcus Wiley. Front row, Rodney Darden, Dushon Goff, Jim Sandridge and Cecil Ferguson, the first Angelina College basketball coach. Ferguson has retired from coaching and teaching biology, but he came back to the alumni games to coach the blue team.
Orange Team Alumni basketball players faced the blue team in the alumni games. They included (left to right) Scotty Washington, Derrick Grey, Mo Oliver (the coach), Lawrence Purke, John Mouton, Derrick Pendland, Larry Beard, Marcus Carroll and Dr. Manfred Quentel. The orange team beat the blue team, 64-62.	The dugout was as lively as the field during the alumni baseball game.  Donnie Randell (right), baseball coach at Lufkin High School, was just one of the players.
Marcus Carroll drilled a three-pointer for an orange team 64-62 win.	Greg Roberson, Dushon Goff and Dee Yarbrough try to get ready for the alumni game.

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