Houston Dash make it two-in-a-row with 3-2 win over Washington Spirit

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 27, 2018) The 4,000-plus soccer fan who braved the Texas heat and humidity on Memorial Day Weekend witnessed Rachel Daly (shown left) score two goals as the Houston Dash won their second home game in a row in downing the Washington Spirit by the score of 3-2 at BBVA Compass Stadium. 

Daly nailed her third goal of the season in the 45th minute from inside the box; off a cross from Nichelle Prince, to give the Dash a 1-0 lead going into the locker room at halftime. Kealia Ohai doubled the Dash lead in the 46th minute when she rocketed the ball past Washington goalkeeper Estelle Johnson from 20 yards out. The goal was the first of the season for the Draper, Utah native, who played her college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Ohai stated after the game:

“I actually tried to pass it wide first, but it bounced back to my favorite shot. I said ‘just hit it’ and it curled. I didn’t know if it was going to curl in. I thought it might go wide, but it went in. It was a great feeling. As a forward, it’s difficult when you haven’t scored especially coming back from an injury. You need to get that confidence, so it’s definitely a relief for me. I need to get back on a roll because when I’m not scoring it’s frustrating. But I think [the goal] was the start of the floodgates for me. I needed to get one and get my confidence back. I’m excited to move forward.”  

The Spirit cut the Dash lead in half in the 54th minute when Estefania Banini drilled the ball from the front of the post for the score. It was the first goal of 2018 for the Argentinian. Daly added her second goal 22 minutes later off an assist by Thembi Kgatlana. The two goals were the first multi-goal game as a professional for Daly.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved 

Houston head coach Vera Pauw was forced to rearrange her lineup due to two injuries on Sunday evening when Kristie Mewis left the game in the 19th minute with a left knee injury. Prior to the start of the game, Pauw pulled Kyah Simon from the starting lineup when she experienced tightness in her groin during warm-ups.

Pauw was asked during the post-game press conference, about the team seeming to have more fun during the game. She responded:

I think they’ve always had fun. It’s a battle. It’s always a battle, but when you score then of course you’re happy. It’s looks like they will always have more joy and of course you feel it better than when you cannot get through the goal of the opponent. But it’s important to know that we never lost our trust, that we would get there because every training session, every game, we were getting better and there was no hesitation - in let’s say the steps that we wanted to make.”

Houston returns to BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. to host the first place North Carolina Courage for their second meeting of the regular season. 

HBU outlasts New Orleans in 12 inning marathon game

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 25, 2018) In a game that lasted four and one-half hours and 12 innings, the Houston Baptist University Huskies secured a 4-3 win over the New Orleans Privateers to stay alive in the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament at Constellation Field. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning, left fielder Spencer Halloran was hit by a pitch and walked; allowing the winning run to score. After the fourth inning the score was tied at one, with HBU adding two runs in the fifth. New Orleans evened the score at three in the eighth. 

HBU designated hitter Jake Scott went 4-for-6 with one run while right fielder Matt Heck was 2-for-5 with one run. For the Privateers, catcher Beau Bratton was 2-for-4 with one run. They used seven pitchers in the losing effort, with Christopher DeMayo receiving the loss in one inning of work. Closer JT Newton pitched 4-1 innings in relief got the win, his third of the season.

The Huskies and Privateers will meet again on Saturday, May 26 at 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game at 6 p.m.

Houston Dash come from behind to down Seattle Reign

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved 

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 24, 2018) In a stunning change of events, the Houston Dash (shown right) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Wednesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. Second half goals from Kristi Mews and Veronica Latsko lifted Houston to 2-1 win and its first franchise victory over the Seattle Reign. The win was also the first of the season at home in 2018.

Houston trailed 1-0 in the 68^th minute when Rachel Daly delivered a set piece to the back post finding Kristi Mewis. The Hanson, Massachusetts native headed down the Daly service inside the near post stunning a Seattle Reign side that had control of the match and had won 10 straight against the Houston side.

The equalizer came after a flurry of activity that saw Houston begin to assert themselves a little more slowly as the match went along.

“The importance of a win,” said Houston head coach Vera Pauw,  “is that we feel that we are on the right track because if you don’t get points, you may reach a moment where players do not believe anymore that they are on the right track, but there will be a point that that is there. If you have a team in development, you need those moments where everything falls on your side and that is the most important part. Other than that, we have points and we are back in the race for playoffs with these points.”

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved 

Houston was determined to get more than just a point in the first of four consecutive home games. After withstanding a flurry of attempts by Seattle (seven shots  in the final seven minutes), the Dash countered with the game winning attack. After Megan Rapinoe’s deflected effort clang off the first post, Houston was off and running in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Thembi Kgatlana, who subbed on in the 75^th minute gathered in the clearance just on the Seattle side midfield. Racing down the left side, the South African international headed towards the top of the 18 where she drew the defenders away from an onrushing Veronica Latsko (46’). The Houston Dash forward turned a perfectly weighted pass into a one time right-footed blast that banged off the inside of the far post and into the net giving Houston a 2-1 lead.

“Well it’s great that the substitutes make such a difference and it would be both sides (offensive and defensive), and if it had been the other way around, we would have had the same outcome,” continued Pauw. “It’s good that we can change things and the depth on the bench is bringing us something special, but we also need to realize that we need to keep being disciplined, not to give so many chances away.”

Bethany Yanez had given Seattle the early lead with a goal in the 13^th minute but Houston would not be denied their second stoppage time win in the team’s last five outings.

Houston with the win moved to within two spots of the fourth playoff berth just 10 games into the season. The Dash, unbeaten in four of their last five outings, return to action on Sunday May 27^th at BBVA Compass Stadium hosting the Washington Spirit at 7 p.m.

No. 8 New Orleans upsets No. 1 Sam Houston State at Southland Conference Tourney

Photo and story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 23, 2018) No. 8 New Orleans (shown right) tied the score at three in the eighth inning and scored the go-a-head run in the tenth to down No. 1 Sam Houston State by the score of 4-3 in day one action at the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament at Constellation Field. The Privateers became the first team since 2015 to be a No. 8 seed and upset the top seed. New Orleans scored the first run of the game when center fielder Orynn Veillon connected for a double to deep left field to score right fielder Pearce Howard from first base. The Bearkats responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs on hits by first baseman Hunter Hearn and right fielder Clayton Harp; scoring designated hitter Blake Chisolm and Hearn. They added their third run in the sixth, to increase their lead. Then with two outs in the top of the eight inning, Howard got a double and Veillon walked. Catcher Beau Bratton came to the plate and hit a triple down the right field line, scoring Howard and Veillon, to take a 4-3 lead; and the game.

Veillon and Howard both went 2-for-4 with two runs while Bratton was 2-for-5. John Barr, seeing two innings in relief, received hios sixth win of the season, with Brad Demco, pitching one inning is relief received the loss. The Privateers will face the winner of No. 4 Houston Baptist University and No. 5 Central Arkansas, while Sam Houston will play the loser.

Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State score wins on first day of Southland Baseball Tournament

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 23, 2018) The 2018 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament kicked off on Wednesday, May 23 at Constellation Field with four games in the four day tournament. Game one saw No. 3 Northwestern State Demons and No. 6 McNeese State Cowboys taking  the field, with No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana Lions facing No. 7 Nicholls Colonels in game two. In game one, the Demons downed the Cowboys by the score of 2-1 while the Lions took a 4-2 win over the Colonels.

Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State will face off at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 24 in the winners side of the bracket while McNeese State and Nicholls will at 4 p.m. with the loser heading home. Rounding out Wednesday evening's game is a 4 p.m. game pitting No. 1 San Houston State and No. 8 New Orleans. The night cap will see No. 4 Houston Baptist taking on No. 5 Central Arkansas.

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Kubitza's grand slam home run leads Sugar Land to 10-4 win over Southern Maryland

Sugar Land Skeeters manager Pete Incaviglia has seen
his team connect for 26 runs in two games against the
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

Story and Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 19, 2018) Paced by a grand slam home run by right fielder Kyle Kubitza, the Sugar Land Skeeters (13-7) downed the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (7-12) by the score of 10-4 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas on Saturday,May 19, 2018). The win pushed the Skeeters record for the home stand to 4-2 against the Blue Crabs.

The Blue Crabs jumped put out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first innings with second baseman Johnny Bladel scoring on a throwing error by Sugar Land first baseman Matt Chavez. First baseman Devon Rodriguez secured the Southern Maryland second run off a single by left fielder Ryan Strausborger. They added an additional run in the second inning to take the score to 3-0 after nine outs. The Skeeters came back in the bottom of the inning, when left fielder Courtney Hawkins knocked a solid hit down the third base line, scoring third baseman Albert Cordero and second baseman Anthony Giansanti from third and second base, respectively. Sugar Land added two more run in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. The Blue Crabs responded with an additional run in the top of the fourth to tie the score at four.

Then Kubitza connected for his base-clearing hit over the left center field wall and into the play land. The round tripper was his second home run of the season and pushed his RBI total to 17 for 2018. The Skeeters added two insurance runs, on a hit by Hawkins in the seventh inning, and a hit by first baseman Matt Chavez, in the eighth, to close out the scoring for the night. Hawkins currently leads the Atlantic League in both RBI, with 26, and home runs (six).

The current series ends on Sunday, May 20 with a 2:05 p.m. CDT start. The Skeeters will begin a six-game road series on Tuesday, May 22 against the Somerset Patriots and the New Britain Bees before returning on May 29 to host the Long Island Ducks.

Deer Park 8U Vengeance kicks off All-Star softball season with two wins

Photo by Kristine Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SPLENDORA, TEXAS (May 12, 2018) The Deer Park Vengeance 8U Softball Team kicked off the 2018 summer all-star season with two wins and one loss at the All-Star District Tournament on Saturday, May 12, 2018 in Splendora, Texas. In their first game of the tournament, Vengeance downed Conroe Crush by the score of 7-5. They followed up with a 10-5 win over East Montgomery County Texans before dropping an 11-10 heart-breaker to the Conroe Crush.

In the three games, Vengeance tallied 44 hits for a team batting average of .657. The also combined for 31 singles, nine doubles, and two triples. All 13 players on the all-star roster connected for hits with 12 scoring runs. Offensively, the All-Stars were led by third baseman Gaby Sanchez, right fielder Chloe Willis, rover Emilee Mendoza, and left fielder Cambrie Johnson with five hits each, followed by shortstop Morgan Meredith and flex Reyna Calzonzint with four each, and flex Brooke Sawyer, pitcher Mikayla Garza, and center fielder Raleigh Gil with three each. Two hits each were added by catcher Kirstin Kelly, second baseman Madison Jones, first baseman MerrieAnne Minor while flex Marissa Vasquez added one.

Garza led the Vengeance with five RBI, with Johnson and Garza both scoring four times, with Garza and Calzonzint adding triples and Sanchez connecting for a solo home run. Kelly, while behind the plate, had two tags at home and one pop-up foul caught for outs. As a result of their individual play, Garza was selected by the game officials as the Most Valuable Player against the Crush and Texans. In addition, Minor was selected as the game MVP in the second game against the Crush.

The Vengeance will continue tournament play on Sunday, May 13 against the Deer Park Dynasty with a 9:20 a.m. first pitch, and are coached by Abel Mendoza, Leah Jones, Tim Willis, Larry King, Dale Yurt and John Sawyer.

New York Yankees purchase contract of Rey Navarro from Sugar Land Skeeters

 SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 12, 2018) The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that the New York Yankees have purchased the contract of infielder Rey Navarro. The Yankees have yet to announce what level Navarro will report to.

Navarro becomes the second member of the 2018 Skeeters team to have their contract purchased by an MLB organization. Left-hander Paco Rodriguez had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins on May 2.

Navarro, 28, signed with the Skeeters prior to Tuesday’s game against the Lancaster Barnstormers. He became the first player in Skeeters history to hit two home runs in his debut on May 8, with the two home runs also coming in his first two at-bats. In three games with the Skeeters, Navarro went 6-for-11 with two doubles, two home runs and three RBIs.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Navarro in the third round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He made his Major League debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2015 and hit .276 with a home run and three RBIs in 10 games, which has accounted for all of his MLB service time. Navarro began the 2018 season with Triple-A Tacoma (Seattle Mariners) and was released by the organization on April 27.

In 1,152 career Minor League games, Navarro has a slash line of .265/.313/.374 with 61 home runs and 486 RBIs. He spent four seasons in the Diamondbacks organization (2007-10), four in the Kansas City Royals organization (2010-13), one in the Cincinnati Reds organization (2014), one in the Orioles organization (2015), two in the Los Angeles Angels organization (2016-17) and one in the Mariners organization (2018). Navarro was a Midwest League All-Star in 2009 with Single-A South Bend (Arizona), a Carolina League All-Star in 2011 with High-A Wilmington (Kansas City) and a Southern League All-Star in 2014 with Double-A Pensacola (Cincinnati).

TexSport Publications named Broadcast and Media Outlet of Deer Park 8U Vengeance

By Chris Price

Copyright 2018 All Rights Rseerved

PASADENA, TEXAS (May 11, 2018) TexSport Publications is proud to announce that they are the official broadcast and media outlet for the Deer Park 8U Vengeance All-Star Softball Team. TexSport Publications will cover and report on the Vengeance during the 2018 summer all-star softball season and broadcast all their home games and selected road games.

The live broadcasts will be available on Facebook Live and on their YouTube Live channel, with Robert Kelly handling the play-by-play duties and Darla Tamulitis providing the color commentary.

The long-time media duo also broadcast the Deer Park 8U Cougars games during the 2018 spring season league games in the Deer Park Girl's Softball League.

Houston Dash, Portland Thorns battle to one-all draw

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 9, 2018) With a header by defender Janine van Wyk in the 81st minute, the Houston Dynamo protected their draw as they tied the Portland Thorns FC 1-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Wednesday evening. Portland got on the scoreboard first when forward Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic took a pass from captain Christine Sinclair in the 25th minute, and right-footer the ball from outside the box to the bottom right corner for the first goal of the game. The score was the first of the season for the Swiss native and the third assist for Sinclair.

It took the Dash 32 minutes to even the score when forward Kyah Simon when across the cage from the right side of the box for her first goal of 2018. The score was the second of her NWSL career. Four minutes from the end of the game, it was Simon again providing the danger, this time with a right-footed blast from 23 yards that sailed over the crossbar. Simon stated:

“It’s always nice to score a goal. We built some momentum from it and created some big chances. There were some good parts in the game where we looked like the better team. It’s something to build from especially from the win last week and taking a point away against the reigning champs.”

She added, about her first goal with the club,

“I need to watch it back; I have terrible memory. I remember (Dash FW) Veronica (Latsko) holding the ball and making an overlapping run around her. Then, her playing me and it was a perfectly timed pass. I had to just hit through it to the back post. We’ve been working in training and some things are starting to pay off. We as a group are starting to build confidence. We competed against the best team in the league and got a point as well. I’m happy with the point; it was a 50/50 game.”

The Dash will play their third match in an eight-day span on Saturday when they travel to Chicago to take on the Red Stars at Toyota Park. That match is slated for a 7 p.m. CDT kickoff and will be streamed live on the go90 app and online at NWSLsoccer.com.

Sugar Land Skeeters drop heart breaker to Somerset Patriots, 7-6

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 5, 2018) Catcher Derek Norris went 3-for-4 with three RBI as the Sugar Land Skeeters dropped their first game of the season to the Somerset Patriots at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Both teams tallied 10 hits in the 7-6 loss, with Sugar Land dropping to 7-1 for the season. Right hander Konner Wade, pitching 1.1 inning in relief received the loss.  The series will continue on Sunday, May 6 with a 2:05 p.m. CDT start.

2018 Cap 2K Open Water Race and Pledge Swim scheduled for Sunday, April 29, 2018

Students from Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas, who competed in the 2016 race,
 are shown  with Olympic Gold Medalist and race coordinator Sandy Neilson-Bell (third from left).
Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 29, 2018) At 10:30 a.m. in Austin, Texas, the 2018 Cap 2K Open Water Race and Pledge Swim will begin with over 200 swimmers from all over the United States competing. The race, which is billed as "The Only 'Downhill' Swimming Race in Texas" will start off the east end of  Red Bud Isle  and will consist of a 2000-plus-meter straightaway course ending at the Texas Rowing Center in Austin in Lady Bird Lake.

The race is the brainchild of Dr. Keith Bell and his wife, Sandy Neilson-Bell and will attract swimmers as young as 12-year-old and as old as their 80s. The divisions include adults 18-and-over, youth 12-14 years old, , first responders, and a separate division for those choosing to wear a wet suit. The Cap 2K also includes a division for high school-aged swimmers. The 10th Annual Open Water Swimming H.S. Championships will see seventeen swimmers from the Houston area competing, including swimmers who attend First Baptist Christian Academy, Pasadena High School, Pasadena Memorial High School, Sam Rayburn High School and various swimming clubs from the Gulf area.

As stated on the event's web site, it is held for fun, health and fitness, to promote clean water and water conversation, and to raise money for swim lessons for those less fortunate and to fight prostate cancer through support, education, awareness and advocacy.

Awards to the top competitors will be presented at the conclusion of the race at Eiler's Park, which is next to historic Deep Eddy Pool in Austin.

Ohai returns to starting XI, but Houston Dash falls to North Carolina 2-0

Photo by Jennifer Edwards
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 28, 2018) The 3,591 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium were witness to the return of Kealia Ohai to the starting lineup, but it was not enough, as the Houston Dash dropped a 2-0 decision to the North Carolina Courage on Saturday afternoon in Houston. Ohai, along with newcomer Kyah Simon, excited the highly partisan crowd, but the Dash could not find the back of the net for the third loss of the season. Ohai talked after the game about her return.  

“Good, as far as my knee, and physically, I feel really good. I just think that we have some areas that we need to improve on, definitely set pieces – that is one of our weaknesses and we need to be better defending those, but I think we have a lot with (forward) Kyah (Simon) and we have a lot to build on. Kyah has only got about three practices with us so, moving forward we are going to improve a lot, still, but it’s just those little things that we need to fix.”

The Courage scored in the third minute with a long throw-in from forward Jessica McDonald, which bounced inside the penalty area and found forward Crystal Dunn in the right position for her third goal of the season. They added an insurance goal lead in the 48th minute after the Dash cleared a corner kick that fell to midfielder Kristen Hamilton. Hamilton settled the bouncing ball and uncorked a shot from 25 yards out that beat Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell low to her right post.

Dash fans were brought to their feet in the 76th minute when midfielder Linda Motlhalo went down on the pitch with an injury and had to be carried off the field by teammate Rachel Daly (shown above). The 19-year-old South African was replaced by Claire Falknor.

Next up for the Dash is a Saturday, May 5 match up against Sky Blue FC in New Jersey. They return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Wednesday, May 9 to host the defending NWSL Champions, Portland Thorns FC.

Skeeters make it 2-0 with walk off single to down New Britain 5-4

Story and Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (April 28, 2018) Albert Cordero's walk off single in the ninth inning sealed a 5-4 win for the Sugar Land Skeeters over the New Britain Bees on Saturday, April 28 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. The Skeeter catcher, who was pitch hitting for Alvaro Rondon, connected on a 1-0 pitch, to score first baseman Matt Chavez. The win pushed Sugar Land's record to 2-0 in the six-game season opening series.

The Skeeters scores three runs in the first inning, with the Bees leveling the score in the second. Sugar Land regained the lead in the fourth and held onto their 4-3 lead when New Britain scored a single run in the eighth. After than, Cordero connected for his single to knock in the winning run. The series continues on Sunday with a 2:05 p.m. CDT start.

Sugar Land tabs 2-1 win over New Britain to kick off season

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (April 27, 2018) The Sugar Land Skeeters kicked of their 2018 season with a new manager, a load of new players, and a 2-1 win over the New Britain Bees on Friday, April 27, 2018. The capacity crowd at Constellation Field saw Pete Incaviglia (shown above) take over the manager reins from Gary Gaetti, who stepped down in 2017 after six years at the helm of the Skeeters

Sugar Land's runs came from designated hitter Courtney Hawkins, who nailed a 1-1 pitch to deep right-center field for an inside-the-park home run to put the Skeeters up 1-0 in the bottom of the third. Center fielder Anthony Giansanti followed Hawkins with a triple, and was sent home on second baseman Alovaro Rondon's sacrifice grounder. The Bees scored their single run in the fifth inning. The Skeeters tallied their two runs on six hits while leaving only four on base. Starting pitcher Mitch Talbot received the win, going five innings while giving up four hits and one unearned run. 

The series continues on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. CDT start.

Houston Dynamo down Toronto FC 5-1

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 21, 2018) For the fifth time in club history, the Houston Dynamo scored five goals in one game in route to a 5-1 win over Toronto FC at BBVA Compass Stadium. The win evened their record to 2-2-2 and snapped a two-game losing streak for Houston. All it took was seven minutes and the Dynamo was already up by two goals. Three minutes into the game, Mauro Manotas nailed his third goal of the season to begin the game. Romell Quioto was crediting with the assist. Four minutes later, Leonardo doubled Houston's offensive production for the afternoon when he converted a deflected corner kick, for his first goal of the season. In the first half, Toronto was called four times for off-sides, which certainly made a difference in the first 45 minutes.

Toronto developed very little offensive punch in the first half and that continued in the second half. Houston came right back in the second half and gave Toronto a bloody nose in the 46th minute, Eric Alexander pounces on a rebound in front of goal to put the Dynamo up 3-0. Six minutes later, Toronto cut Houston's lead to two when Mitch Taintor bagged his first MLS goal 

Houston added insurance goals in the 60th minute when Alberth Elis restores the three-goal lead for Houston; scoring his third goal of the season. Seventeen minutes later, Quioto tallied his first goal of 2018 to clinch the Houston win.

Head coach Wilmer Cabrera (shown above) was quoted after the game:

 “I think it was important for us to win today. It was a must for us because we have lost the past two games here. We needed this win badly. We were focused on this game to try to win. We scored right away, but overall I think while it was for us important to get the three points, our performance wasn’t as good as the other ones. Our possession, our rhythm wasn’t as good, and I think we weren't as sharp as we were in the past games, even with bad results. It could be the fact that we got two goals quickly. I think still we considered too many options for them that it shouldn’t happen today, so we have to continue working. We need to continue improving. It was positive for us that all our forwards scored: Romell (Quioto), Alberth (Elis), and Mauro (Manotas), all three up front. They scored, and that is important for them to get the confidence, especially for Alberth that he was able to score. It was good, but still I believe we could do better. We have to be more solid defensively. We conceded only one goal, but it could have been two goals against a team that are very young. It’s their second team for them, so that’s something that we are not happy about because we could do better, and we have to do better.”

Lloyd scores 100th international goal to lead USA to 6-2 win over Mexico

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 8, 2018) In a game that saw Carli Lloyd score her 100th international goal along with Alex Morgan's two goals, the U.S. Women's National Team downed Mexico 6-2 in an international friendly match at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium. On Thursday, April 5, the USA also downed Mexico 4-1 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Americans did not waste any time scoring when Mallory Pugh got around the Mexican defense and scored her 11th international goal to put the USA up 1-0 in the third minute. Mexico responded 14 minutes later when Monica Ocampo drilled the ball, from the left side, past goalkeeper Jane Campbell to tie the score. The goal was the 14th international goal of her career, which leads the current Mexico team roster.

El Tri took the lead in the game when Kiana Palacios scored off a corner kick by Ocampo in the 17th minute. After that, the USA scored three unanswered goals to close out the first half of play with a 4-2 lead. The first of the three goals came from Lindsay Horan in the 25th minute. Nine minutes later Lloyd headed in the third American goal, and her 100th international goal, from the center of the goal area with an assist from Morgan. With two minutes remaining on the half, Morgan tallied her 84th international gaol to put Brian the USA up 4-2. Megan Rapinoe was credited with two assists in the first half; on the goals by Horan and Morgan. The United States padded their lead in the second half with goals by Rapinoe (64th minute) and Morgan (69th minute). It was the 36th international goal for Rapinoe and 85th for Morgan. 

Three Americans saw their first action for Team USA. Haley Hanson (Houston Dash), Hallie Mace (UCLA), and Tegan McGrady (Stanford) all received their first cap for the United States. Hanson came into the game in the 40th minute to replace Horan. Mace entered the game in the 50th minute for Tierna Davidson, while McGrady took over for Pugh in the 58th minute.

Deer Park 8U Cougars advance in winner's bracket of La Porte Tournament

Photo by Kristine Kelly
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

LA PORTE, TEXAS (April 7, 2018) The Deer Park 8U Cougars Girls' Softball Team stormed through the first two rounds of the La Porte Girls Softball Tournament, scoring a total of 25 runs in two games at Little Cedar Bayou Park in La Porte, Texas on Saturday, April 7, 2018.

In their first game of the tournament, the Cougars downed the South Houston Extreme by the score of 11-0. The "Ladies in Red" scored four runs in both the first and second innings, and added three insurance runs in the third for their first win of the tournament. Their 11 runs was the result of 14 hits while leaving only three runners on base. They followed that with a 14-13 win over Deepwater Xplosion to go 2-0 in the winner's bracket of the tournament. Against Deepwater, the Cougars needed two extra innings to secure the one-run victory.

Against the Extreem, nine of the ten Cougars playing in the game reached base, with left fielder Quinn Romero, shortstop Aubrey Rogers, and catcher Kirstin Kelly each scoring two runs. Pitcher Cali Telles, first baseman Riley Wilson, center fielder Jocelynn Wall, second baseman Emilee Mendoza, and right fielder Paige Taylor connected at the plate for seven RBI, with third baseman Melina Delgado and rover Mia Ceniceros adding runs for the Cougars.

The Cougars had a tough match up in their second game of the tournament against Deepwater. They jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one inning, and held an 8-5 lead after two. Xplosion cut Deer Park's lead to two in the third and tied the score at eight in the fourth when the Cougars failed to score. That marked the end of regulation; forcing the game to extra innings. In the fifth inning, Deepwater exploed for four runs to take the lead 12 -8. The Cougars responded in great fashion, scoring four runs to again tie the game. In the sixth inning, Deer Park held Xplosion to a single run to take the score to 13-12. The Cougars began the inning with runners at second and third (as per the tie breaker rules)  when Kelly strode the plate. and after two pitches, connected for a fly ball over the second baseman's head and into center field; scoring Delgado and Rogers from third base and second base, respectively, for two runs and the win. Romero, Telles, Wilson, Delgado, and Wall were three-of-three at the plate, with Mendoza, Ceniceros, and Taylor adding hits and runs late in the game to add to the Cougars' total.

Deer Park will face the Deer Park Hooks in the third round of the tournament with a 9:05 p.m. CDT first pitch. 
The Cougars are managed by Larry King and coached by Abel Mendoza and Dale Yurt.

Selected Cougar games are broadcast live on Facebook direct from the ballpark. Contact Robert H Kelly at texsportpub@aol.com for details. 

Deep Park 8U Cougars make it two-straight with 11-5 win over DP Crush

Photo by
Darla Tamulitis Kelly, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

DEER PARK, TEXAS (April 2, 2018) Third baseman Melina Delgado was three-for-three at the plate and connected for a two-run home run in the third inning to lead the Deer Park Cougars 8U softball team to a 11-5 win over the Deer Park Crush at the Deer Park Adult Softball Fields on Monday evening. The Cougars tallied their 11 runs off 15 hits to raise their league record to 2-3 for the season. They scored their first three runs in the first inning, with solid hitting by Delgado, left fielder Quinn Romero (1-for-1, one run), shortstop Aubrey Rogers, (two singles, two runs), rover Jocelynn Wall (single, RBI) and catcher Kirstin Kelly (single, RBI). They added a single run in the second inning off a sacrifice grounder by Romero, scoring flex Mia Ceniceros from second base. 

The third inning saw the Cougars add three runs to their total, with first baseman Riley Wilson, Delgado, and Rogers all scoring runs. Right fielder Paige Taylor (1-for 2, single), along with Ceniceros, pitcher Cali Telles, and Wilson added insurance runs in the fourth. Second baseman Kalissa Telles (1-for-2, single) also scored a run in the fourth. Center fielder Genesis Rodriguez had a great game defensively, fielding the ball on numerous plays to limiting the Crush advancing runners into scoring position.

Next up for the Cougars is a Wednesday, April 4 rematch with the Deer Park Savage. The Cougars downed the Savage 10-8 on March 26 for  their first win of the season. First pitch is set for  6:15 p.m. CDT at the Adult Softball Complex in Deer Park. The Cougars are managed by Larry King, and coached by Able Mendoza and Dale Yurt.

Houston Dynamo falls 2-0 to New England Revolution

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 31, 2018) For the 24th time in program history, the Houston Dynamo and the New England Revolution faced off in a 90-minute contest with the Revolution taking a 2-0 win at BBVA  Compass Stadium in Houston. The Dynamo lost dropped them to 1-2-1 (4 points) for the season and takes their all-time record against their Eastern Conference rival to 5-12-7.

In the 15th minute, New England took the early lead on a counter attack shot by forward Teal Bunbury. He took a pass from forward  Cristian Penilla, who was driving down the right side and aptly sent the ball to the Canadian for the score. It was the first goal of the season for Bunbury and the third assist for Penilla.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

In the 35th minute, DaMarcus Beasley (shown left) picked up a red card for aggressive play; taking down Penilla at the top of the box, forcing the Houston to play with 10 men and without the services of their captain for the remainder of the match. It was first exclusion of his career, and as a result, Houston will be without Beasley in their April 14 match in San Jose.

The second half saw the Dynamo aggressively attacking the Revolution; with Alberth Elis breaking for the goal in the 63rd minute. His shot was turned away by goalkeeper Matt Turnerto keep the New England lead at one. New England responded nine minutes later with a tight-angle shot from the right post by Penilla for the second goal of the game. 

Dynamo head coach Wilber Camrera discussed with the press, after the game, the adjustment that were made a halftime. 

"We just decided to keep a block of the back four and two defensive midfielders. We sacrificed (FW) Andrew Wenger. He went from the wing to the left back and he did a good job. Then we keep the two midfielders, defensive midfielders, and we tried to leave (FW) Alberth (Elis) and (FW) Mauro (Manotas) a little bit more with freedom to look for opportunities. I told them we are going to have one or two opportunities and when we have one or two opportunities, we need to put that ball in the net. We had two clear opportunities, but we couldn’t do it. They scored a good goal because they have very good, talented players. Even though we tried to put some fresh legs up front, we could not score today.  We need to regroup. We need to give a little bit of a day off and come back with a good mentality to try to overcome this situation that has happened twice this year for us. We feel really awkward coming home and losing two times in the first three games of the season. This is something that we have to face now, and we need to fix it."

Houston goalkeeper Chris Seitz made his 100th career start in an MLS regular season game while Beasley made his 176th career start in MLS regular season play.