Philadelphia Union fall to Houston Dynamo on late goal by Brian Ching

Brian Ching came off the bench to score
the winning goal against Philadelphia.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-
La Vita Loco Photography

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012, TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 30, 2012) Brad Davis scored his fourth goal of the season to lead the Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union in a Saturday evening match at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Davis drilled the ball from the top of the box, on a pass from Macoumba Kandji, to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead.

Also assisting on the play was Honduras international player Boniek Garcia.

Garcia came into the game in the 19^th minute and fed the ball to Kandji whom passed it to Davis for the score.

He was making his first appearance for the Dynamo and first practiced with his teammates this past Thursday.

The goal was Davis’ 25th regular season goal for Houston, moving him past Dwayne De Rosario into second place on the all-time Dynamo scoring list.

Philadelphia came back one minute into the second half when Keon Daniel took the ball from 25 yards out and knocked in a left-footed goal to tie the score.

The final goal of the game was scored by Brian Ching, who came off the bench in the 74^th minute to replace Will Bruin.

In the 83^rd minute, Ching was pushed in the back by Union midfielder Gabriel Farfan as both players were fighting for position.

Ching was awarded a penalty kick which resulted in the goal when the shot struck the underside of the crossbar and ricocheted into the back of the net.

The winning goal was Ching’s second of the year and 79th regular season goal of his career.

In team statistics, the Dynamo had ten shots on goal as apposed to eight for the Union.

With the win, the Dynamo raised their season record to 6-5-5 which places them in fifth in the Eastern Division.

The Union dropped to 3-9-2 which kept them steady in ninth place in the same division.

The Dynamo will have a short practice on Monday as they prepare for a Tuesday evening match again the Chicago Fire.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will feature post-game fireworks as the Dynamo honor the U.S. Armed Forces with Military Appreciation Night.

Two Gulf LSC Swimmers Named to U.S. Olympic Team

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (June 29, 2012) Two Houston area and Gulf LSC swimmers have punched their tickets to the XXX Olympic Games in London.

Cammile Adams of Cypress, Texas and Breeja Larson of Mesa, Arizona, both of whom swim for Texas A and M University, have made the United States Olympic Swimming Team and will compete in London.

Breeja won the women’s 100-meter breaststroke in the time of 1:05.92, just touching out current world record holder Rebecca Soni by .07.

Her time ranks her second in the world this year and the 12^th fastest of all time.

Breeja is the first Aggie swimmer to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in an individual event.

Not to be outdone, Cammile Adams also earned her rings by winning the 200-meter butterfly.

Her time of 2:06.52 ranks sixth in the world for 2012 and makes her the second Aggie ever to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team in an individual event.

In addition, Erika Dittmer of Spring, Texas along with Rita Medrano and Lili Ibanez will be representing Mexico in London.

They were named to the squad at the Mexican Olympic Trials in early June.

All five young ladies are coached by Steve Bultman.

Sugar Land drops a heartbreaker, 6-5 to Camden Riversharks



The Skeeters will continue the six-game series against
Camden on Tuesday evening at 7:05 p.m.
Photo by Robert H Kelly-TexSport Publications,
Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved


By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (June 25, 2012) The Sugar Land Skeeters gave up five runs in the third inning to drop a tough game to the Camden Riversharks 6-5 in the fourth game of their current six-game home stand.

The Skeeters did get on the board first in the second inning on a single by catcher Octavio Martinez; scoring first baseman Josh Pressley from third base.

Third baseman Ofilio Castro also scored on a Luis Figueroa sacrifice fly to center field.

The Riversharks’ bats came alive in the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead and hold it until the end of the game.

Shortstop Jake Eigsti sent left fielder Eduardo Perez home from third off a single through the middle to leadoff the scoring.

Eigsti scored next when center fielder Chris Walker tripled to deep right field.

Felix then came to bat and on a 2-0 pitch, connected on a slider from right handed pitcher Michael Nix to send the ball over the left field wall; scoring three RBI on his second home run of the season.

Camden came back to score another run in the eighth inning when catcher Raul Padron got to second on a 1-1 pitch, scoring Brian Burgamy from first base to take the score to 6-4.

The Skeeters cut the Camden lead to three when Castro knocked a triple to the corner of right field, scoring Pressley from second.

They further cut the Rivershark’s lead to two when Castro scored on a Steve Moss sacrifice to center field.

It looked like the Skeeters would make a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning when Jason Lane hit solid double down the right side to score Miguel Negron.

Pressley, who game to the plate with the chance to win the game, was intentionally walked by relief pitcher John Lujan in order to get to Castro.

Castro was putout on a 4-3 play to end the game on a close call by first base umpire Ronnie Whitting.

Starting pitcher Ricky Brooks got the win, pitching six innings and giving up two runs off seven hits. He improved to 4-1 for the season with a 2.56 ERA.

Lujan got the save, pitching one inning in relief

Nix was credited with the loss, giving up five runs, six hits while striking out two. His ERA dropped to 8.64 for the season.

Pressley had a great night at the plate; going four-for-four with doubles and two singles, and scoring twice.

His two doubles were his sixth and seventh of the season.

With the win, the Riversharks go to 27-29 on the season, while the Skeeters fall to 24-33.

Both teams will face off for the fifth game of the current series at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday.

Houston Area Swimmers Compete at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (June 25, 2012) Forty-five swimmers from the Houston-Gulf Coast area are competing at the 2012 United States Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska from June 25-July 2, 2012.

The trials are being held in CenturyLink Center in downtown Omaha and are featuring over 1200 swimmers from across the United States

The Gulf LSC, which is the local swimming committee of USA Swimming which oversees swimming in the Texas Gulf area, has ten teams represented at the trials.

Below is a list of the swimmers and their teams.

Live update of the trials can be found at Omega Timing while live webcast of selected heats and events can be found at the USA Swimming website.

AGGIE SWIM CLUB

Ashley Adams

Camille Adams

John Ariens

Kelli Benjamin

Alyssa Conner

Meagan Hairston

Anna Heller

Sarah Henry

Breeja Larson

Megan Latone

Caroline McElhany

Maureen McLaine

Emily Neubert

Christina Regone

Jaclin Rehring

BLUE TIDE AQUATICS

Jordan Jones

Julian Vitarius

CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS SWIM CLUB

Neil Caskey

Cole Cragin

Jonathan Edwards

Ellen Lobb

Chelsie Miller

Charles Moore

Anna Patterson

Catherine Wagner

FIRST COLONY SWIM TEAM

Daniel Graviss

Jordan Hancock

Romy Landeck

Simone Manuel

Brett Pinfold

Skylar Smith

KATY AQUATIC TEAM FOR YOUTH

Cameron McHugh

PEARLAND AQUATICS

Anthony Diers

PREMIER AQUATICS CLUB OF KLEIN

Casey Clark

Ryan Massey

MAGNOLIA AQUATIC CLUB

Cannon Clifton

Margaret Cooke

THE WOODLANDS SWIM TEAM

James Cooper

Jonathan Debaugh

Elliot Dewlen

Kelsey Leneave

Michael McBroom

Gray Umback

HOUSTON SWIM CLUB (UNATTACHED)

Jacob Ritter

UNATTACHED

Maria Sommer

"Dykes On Bykes" to Host CD Release Party

"Dykes On Bykes" rocked the stage at Ratstock.
Photo bt Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loco Photography,
Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

DEER PARK, TEXAS (June 18, 2012) After their successful and energizing preformance at Ratstock 2012, "Dykes On Bykes" has announced the release of their upcoming CD.

The sunglasses-wearing foursome will host a CD release party on Saturday, July 14 at Union Tavern in Webster, Texas.

The members of the band, Matt Fuentes (guitar/vocals), Farrell Jeppesen (guitar), Derrick Mauk (bass) and Brad Corona (drums) will sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans before performing later in the evening.

They will be joined by Primer, Inc. Motorcycles and Pistons and Pinups.

The opening band for "Dykes On Bykes" is yet to be announced.

The group was the lead-in act on Saturday evening for Reverend Horton Heat at Ratstock and has a large following in the greater Houston and Gulf Coast area.

Check back to TexSport Publications for updates.

Ratstock 2012: Vintage Cars, Pin-up Girls, and Music Highlight Day One Activities

Mini-bike races were one of the activities at
Ratstock 2012. Photo by Robert H Kelly

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

PASADENA, TEXAS (June 16, 2012) Day one of Ratstock 2012 saw local bands and a pin-up girl contest entertaining the fans at the Pasadena Rodeo Fairgrounds in Pasadena, Texas.

However, the highlight of the afternoon was the mini-bike races, which saw competitors racing on the dirt floor of the rodeo arena.

The course included both right and left-hand turns with three to four riders competing in each heat.

All mini-bikes were required to be vintage models with no transmissions or gear shifters allowed.

Engines were limited to no more than 6.5-horsepower engines and were required to have a pull start.

Numerous heats were contested with the final consisting of four riders taking to the course for a five-lap competition.

In the five-lap course race final, the winner was Farrel Jeppesen of League City, Texas.

Farrell Jeppeson of Clear Lake, Texas is presented the
Piston Trophy for winning the mini-bikes races by
Derrick Mauk, Master of Ceremonies of the Mini-Bike
Extravaganza at Ratstock 2012.
Photo by Robert H Kelly

He bested all comers and took home the coveted Piston Trophy.

His mini-bike sported a 6.5 horsepower Harbor Freight engine with a McCooney carburetor.

He had previous competed in five races with Ratstock being his first win.

The award for the Coolest Bike went to Paul Langdon of Austin, Texas.

His mini-bike was a 70s style Honda trail bike with a 6.5 horsepower over-head cam engine.

The bike was set up in a military motif, with .50 caliber ammo boxes as saddlebags.

The mini-bike races were sponsored by Dykes On Bykes, a local rock band from Pasadena.

The festival was not just limited to the mini-bike races and music preformed by local bands.

A classic car exhibition was also staged with over 80 pre-1965 cars on display.

Cars on display included a 1949 Willis Jeepster, 1931 Chevy, 1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, 1964 Buick Rivera  1953 Chevy club coupe,  1955 Chevy 3100 pickup truck,

Heidi Van Horne (c) with Derrick Mauk (l), bass player
for Dykes on Bykes and Jay DuPuis (r), President of
PunkStar Industries. Photo by Robert H Kelly

In addition, actress, pin-up model, and writer Heidi Van Horne was on hand to sign autographs, talk with vintage car enthusiasts and display her 1960 Ford F100 truck, affectionately named Molly.

Heidi is currently rebuilding the truck, with the restoration being the basis of a documentary entitled “Making Over Molly.”

Ratstock 2012 will continue on Sunday, May 17 with more music, vintage car displays, and mini-bike races.

Sports Marketing Experts Partners with TexasHSFootball.com and ATHLETES 4 TOMORROW to Host Combines

Through partnerships with Sports Marketing Experts,
TexasHSFootball.com, and Athletes 4 Tomorrow,
multiple combines will be held this summer in front
of many college coaches and recruiters. These combines
will begin their statewide tour in Dallas, TX on July 7.

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (June 14, 2012) College recruiting is heating up, and coaches are looking for players that can help their team win. However, some players might have trouble being seen.

That is why Sports Marketing Experts has partnered with ATHLETES 4 TOMORROW and TexasHSFootball.com. They have created a combine to help students get noticed by college coaches.
           
The combines will be in five different cities within the month of July. The cost per player is one hundred and forty dollars, and the workout will allow students to participate in drills including the forty-yard dash, three-cone drill, and many more.

Along with the drills, ATHLETES 4 TOMORROW will be giving each student a free profile on their website, Athletes4tomorrow.com and Sports Marketing Experts will compile video clips, and write bios for the players.

The dates for the combines are as follows:

July 7, 2012- Dallas, TX
July 14,2012- San Marcos, TX
July 21, 2012- Houston, TX
July 22, 2012- College Station, TX
July 28, 2012- New Orleans, LA

“This is an opportunity for many kids to learn from coaches hat have played at the next level and show college recruiters what they have. Getting the exposure and getting the chance to compete is something that becomes a necessary tool in today's world,” says Christopher Lyke, CEO of TexasHSFootball.com
           

Bentley Turner, CEO and Founder of ATHLETES 4 TOMORROW believes times have changed in college recruiting.
           

“Today with all the social media and technology, it is important to have an athletic resume or player profile online,” said Turner. “Having your profile in our database will help you get in front of a lot more coaches and give coaches the ability to see an athlete that may not have been on their recruiting list.”

For more information on the combine, visit www.sportsmarketingexperts.com/combine

Sugar Land falls to Somerset 6-3, in Atlantic League baseball play

Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (June 11, 2012) Scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning, the Somerset Patriots dropped the Sugar Land Skeeters 6-3 in Atlantic League baseball action at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.

The Patriots first got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning when catcher Adam Donachie scored from third base on a sacrifice fly to center field by right fielder Jonny Tucker.

The Skeeters tied the score in the bottom of the inning when shortstop Iggy Suarez connected on a 2-2 pitch to hit his first homerun of the season.

Sugar Land scored again in the fourth inning on a single by third baseman Ofilio Castro, scoring right fielder Jason Lane from second base.

They came right back in the next inning with Suarez scoring for third on a wild pitch by Derrell McCall.

The Skeeters held on until the seventh inning when the Patriots cut the lead to one on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Dan DeGeorge to score left fielder Aaron Mathews from third base.

Somerset then opened the flood gates with their bats in the eighth innings, scoring three runs on four hits to take the two run lead.

Tucker tied the score at 3-all when he scored from third base on another wild pitch.

Mathews then came to the plate and on a 2-2 pitch, knocked a single through the infield for two RBI; scoring Johnny Drennen from third base and Freddy Sandoval from second to give the Patriots a two-run lead.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning Freddie Bynum scored from second on a Jeff Nettles single.

Sugar Land attempted to come back in the bottom of the ninth inning, but left two on base when Jason lane flied out to left field to end the game.

Right hander Mike Solback got the win; pitching two innings in relief while giving up one run and a single walk.

Michael Nix was credited with the loss, pitching 2.2 innings. He gave up four runs on three hits; striking out two and walking two.

The Skeeters had 11 hits and committed two errors their three hit loss.

Somerset tallied 12 hits to score their six runs for their win.

Both teams will face of again on Tuesday, June 12 in a 7:05 p.m. CDT start to complete the six-game series.