Playing cool

Sarah Embry (No. 12) of the Texas Aces from Pearland mists herself with a fan to keep cool during the American Fastpitch Association national softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, July 30, 2005.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Losing a ride

A skateboarder loses his ride during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park in Allen on Saturday, June 21, 2008. Go Skateboarding Day (GSD) is the official annual skateboarding holiday. It occurs on June 21 each year.

Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles

West Brook handoff

West Brook's Christine Michael (No. 33, center) takes a handoff from Christian Louis (No. 12, right) during a high school football game at Memorial High School in Port Arthur on Friday, Oct. 26, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Future Lamar pitcher

Hardin-Jefferson High School pitcher Taylor Monse balances a baseball on the brim of his cap during baseball practice in Sour Lake on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Hardin-Jefferson High School pitcher Taylor Monse fields balls during baseball practice in Sour Lake on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Monse will sign a letter of intent on Friday to play at Lamar University next year.

Go Skateboarding Day

Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park in Allen on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

photos by Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles



Westin Smith of Plano catches some air during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park. Go Skateboarding Day (GSD) is the official annual skateboarding holiday.



A shattered board is discarded during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park. GSD occurs on June 21 each year.


Metroplex youths take turns working the course during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center.


Michael Tang of Dallas turns during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.



Westin Smith of Plano practices a move during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.


Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.



Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.

Mixed martial arts training

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jeremy Christensen (left) hits a body bag held by Marshall Mooney during practice at Scott Argo's private training studio in Vidor on Thursday, May 8, 2008.


Jeremy Christensen (left) looks for an opening in Marshall Mooney's defense during a practice spar. The Vidor residents are training to compete in mixed martial arts matches.


Jeremy Christensen throws Marshall Mooney during mixed martial arts practice in Vidor.

Chris Cole returns to pro football

photos by Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles
for The Rocky Mountain News

Former Denver Broncos player Chris Cole poses for a portrait at West Orange-Stark High School in West Orange, Texas on Thursday, April 17, 2008. Cole played for Denver from 2000 to 2003.


Former NFL player Chris Cole poses for a portrait at West Orange-Stark High School. Cole moved to Oakland and Jacksonville before retiring. This season, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.


Former Denver Broncos player Chris Cole (right) gets a route from Ken Cole, his father, during practice at West Orange-Stark High School.


Former Denver Broncos player Chris Cole catches a ball during practice with Ken Cole, his father, in West Orange.


Former Denver Broncos player Chris Cole eyes a ball during practice with Ken Cole, his father, in West Orange, Texas.


Former Denver Broncos player Chris Cole catches a ball during practice with Ken Cole, his father, at West Orange-Stark High School.

Please read, "Broncos' recent draft history entirely forgettable" by Lee Rasizer.

Central relays to state

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School 4A state-qualifying relay team members pose for a portrait at the school in Beaumont on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Team members are (clockwise from left) Randy Wilson, Victor Spikes, Charlie Thomas, Jeffrey Thomas and Derrick Hall.
They are the first runners in the school's history to qualify for state in both the 400-meter relay and the 800-meter relay.

3A state tennis finalist

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Silsbee High School junior Matthew Deaver poses for a portrait at the school in Silsbee on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Deaver is the only Southeast Texan qualified for the Class 3A state tennis championships.

Deaver lost the championship match to Nick Lehman of Vernon 6-1, 7-6(3) and is the Class 3A state runner-up.

Kelly's softball superstitions

Kelly High School junior Caitlin Harvey waits for her turn in the batting cage at the school in Beaumont on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Harvey forgot her new cleats and had to wear old cleats for an important game the team won. Since then, teammates have convinced her to wear the worn shoes for every practice and game.


Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Please read, "Yeah, Kelly softball players work hard, but they don't push their luck" by Perryn Keys.

Central's 4x100

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jeffrey Thomas (left to right), Randy Wilson, Charlie Thomas and Derrick Hall pose for a portrait at Central High School in Beaumont on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. They are the Central's 4X100 relay team and are headed to the Region III track and field championships in Huntsville.

Johnson shifts gears video

video by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jonathan Johnson, former funny car Rookie of the Year, earned his architecture degree from Texas A&M last year and moved to the dirt track with a new outlaw modified race car. He and his crew designed and built the car at his family's garage in Beaumont. Now he races most Fridays at Golden Triangle Speedway Park in China.

Please also see the photo slideshow and short trailer video.

Please read, "Architect mastered straight lines as drag racer; now he's trying curves as dirt track driver" by Fred Davis.

Johnson shifts gears trailer

video by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

This is the short trailer for the Jonathan Johnson story. It's similar to the begining of the long version.

Jonathan Johnson shifts gears

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jonathan Johnson, former funny car Rookie of the Year, earned his architecture degree from Texas A&M last year and moved to the dirt track with a new outlaw modified race car. He and his crew designed and built the car at his family's garage in Beaumont. Now he races most Fridays at Golden Triangle Speedway Park in China.

Please see the video.

Please read, "Architect mastered straight lines as drag racer; now he's trying curves as dirt track driver" by Fred Davis.

See a larger version of this slideshow.

District 22-4A track championships

Ozen's Rishard Johnson starts strong in the boys 400 relay during the district 22-4A track championships at Dayton High School Stadium in Dayton on Wednesday, April 9, 2008.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Central's Derrick Hall finishes his leg of the boys 400 relay before his opponents during a track meet at Dayton High School Stadium. Central won the 400 relay district championship with a time of 41.88 as well as the boys overall district championship.



Ozen's Che-von Martin finishes the boys 400 relay behind the leader during a track meet at Dayton High School Stadium. Ozen finished the 400 relay in 42.79 and earned second place.



Ozen's A'Lexus Brannon finishes the girls 400 relay during a track meet at Dayton High School Stadium. Ozen won the 400 relay championship with a time of 49.52 as well as the girls overall district championship.


Please read, "Ozen girls, Central boys lay claim to 22-4A track championships" by Johnnie Walters.

Lady Cardinals post-season run

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Lamar University's Lady Cardinals advance into the semi-final and championship games of the Southland Conference Tournament at the Merrell Center in Katy. Their post-season run ended when they lost the championship game.

See the larger version of this slideshow.

Lamar loses but advances

Lamar's Currye Todd (No. 31, left) tries to make it to the hoop past Southeastern Louisiana's Kevyn Green (No. 3, right) during a basketball game in Hammond, La. on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Lamar's Kenny Dawkins (No. 14, right) works his way past Southeastern Louisiana's Dekyron Nicks (No. 5, left) during a basketball game in Hammond, La. Lamar started the game positioned to win the conference title outright for the first time since the 1983-84 season.



Lamar's Currye Todd (No. 31, right) defends against Southeastern Louisiana's Daryl Arnold (No. 20, left) during a basketball game in Hammond, La. If Lamar could win, they'd have an automatic berth in the NIT tournament.


Lamar's Coy Custer (from left to right), Lawrence Nwevo and Lamar Sanders watch the final few minutes of a basketball game against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La. Lamar University lost the game 83-73, but tied with Stephen F. Austin University to be Southland Conference co-champions and advance into the SLC Tournament.


Lamar's head coach Steve Roccaforte (center) along with assistant coaches Don Skelton (left) and Kermit Holmes (right) react to a referee's call during a basketball game against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La. on Saturday, March 8, 2008. Lamar University must now win three games in four days to advance to the NIT Tournament.

Please read, "Missed shots..." by Perryn Keys.

Lamar beats Nicholls State

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Lamar's Kenny Dawkins (No. 14, right) eyes the ball and gets an arm in the neck after batting down the ball from Nicholls State's Justin Payne (No. 5, center) as Lamar's Darren Hopkins (No. 21, left) runs to get the ball during a college basketball game at Lamar University in Beaumont on March 6, 2008.


Lamar's Currye Todd (No. 31, right) aims at the hoop while Nicholls State's Anatoly Bose (No. 31, left) tries to block during a college basketball game at Lamar University.



Lamar's Tristan Worrell (No. 44, left) tries to swat a pass from Nicholls State's Dominic Friend (No. 11, right) during a college basketball game.


Lamar's Kenny Dawkins (No. 14, bottom) recovers a loose ball from Nicholls State's Justin Payne (No. 5, right) as Dominic Friend (No. 11, top) watches and yells.



Lamar's Currye Todd (No. 31, left) tries to keep the ball in bounds as he tangles with Nicholls State's Adonis Gray (No. 20, right) during a college basketball game. Lamar won the game 84-67 and looks to earn the No. 1 seed into the playoffs.

Please read, "Lamar one win away..." by Perryn Keys.

Woodville stars play for Lone Star 2A title

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The five Woodville High School starters pose for a portrait at the school in Woodville on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. Starters include (clockwise from top) Brooke Taylor, Chastity Foster, Ne'Tia Barlow, Brittany Robinson and Meisha McNeal. The team is competing to be named the best 2A girls basketball team in the Lone Star state.

Please read, "Woodville takes on veteran state tournament team..." and "Woodville defeated by veteran Poth" by Johnnie Walters.

Hoop fight

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Breon Johnson (No. 11, left) tries to take a rebound away from Central's Gavin Donald (No. 32, right) at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008.