Breaking Barriers

A coaching barrier was broken at the Spring Ice Breaker

Seth Livingston
Edward McFarland
Mar 21, 2018, 3:30 pm
Ralph Barreras, Sam Houston coach Vype

A unique relationship was put on display at the Spring Ice Breaker tournament.

It was the relationship between Ralph Barreras and Emmanuel White.

Barreras is the basketball coach at Sam Houston High School and White is the basketball coach for Rashard Lewis’ RL9 Elite AAU team.

What brought the two coaches in contact with one another was sophomore twin brothers Garrick Baines and Jerrick Baines.

Barreras coaches the twins at Sam Houston and now they’re under the coaching and mentorship of White during this AAU season.

“The twins were a blessing to us,” White said. “They researched and found us and said they wanted to play with us.”

The twins research had a lot to do with the help of their high school coach, which is how Barreras and White came in contact with each other.

White whose been coaching the RL9 Elite for nine years said he “never” had a high school coach reach out to him before Barreras.

High school coaches aren’t known for having a hand on what AAU team their kids play for, but bridging the gap between high school and AAU coaches is what Barreras felt needed to be done to help his players develop during the summer.

Barreras showed up to the RL9 Elite game to watch Garrick and Jerrick play, and after the game you saw Barreras dapping up White and talking about the twins play.

“I just want what’s best for my kids,” Barreras said about reaching out to the RL9 Elite. “That’s what it’s all about for me.

“If high school and AAU coaches can come together for the players benefit, that’s what it’s all about,” White said.  “I want no money from the guys I just want to see them be good young men off the court and help us.”

 

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

Houston drops the game to Arizona

D-backs outslug Greinke and Astros to take series opener

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

With the series win over the Rangers by taking two of three games in the middle of the week, the Astros welcomed the Diamondbacks to Minute Maid Park for a three-game weekend series, Houston's final three regular-season home games. Here is how the opener unfolded:

Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3.

Record: 25-26, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Zac Gallen (2-2, 3.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Luis Garcia (0-1, 2.53 ERA).

Houston scores first, but Arizona grabs a lead against Greinke

Houston would get on the board first on Friday night, with George Springer reaching base in the bottom of the first on an error, moving to second on a walk, then to third on a single, as the Astros loaded the bases with no out to threaten a big inning. Instead, they would come away with just one run, with Springer taking home on a wild pitch, grabbing the 1-0 lead, but leaving runs on the table.

They doubled their lead in the bottom of the third, getting a two-out RBI-double by Kyle Tucker to make it a 2-0 Houston lead. The D-backs responded in the top of the fourth, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before a three-run homer by Kole Calhoun off of Zack Greinke would put Arizona in front, 3-2. Greinke would finish one more inning before Houston would move to their bullpen, striking out the side to bring his total to nine on the night, making the bad fourth inning the one blemish on his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 89 P.

Astros tie it, but D-backs take the opener

George Springer would get Greinke off the hook in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the half-inning with a solo bomb to tie the game at 3-3. Luis Garcia was first out of Houston's bullpen and retired Arizona in order for a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. He returned for the top of the seventh but would allow a leadoff single, RBI-triple, and wild pitch to bring in two runs. He would face two more batters, allowing a double and getting a strikeout, before Dusty Baker would come out to get him, now down 5-3.

Blake Taylor would make his return from the IL after Garcia, getting back-to-back outs to finish the inning. He continued on in the 5-3 game in the top of the eighth, but allowed a one-out solo homer to Calhoun, his second of the night and fourth RBI. That made it a 6-3 D-backs lead, which would go final as Houston would go scoreless after Springer's home run back in the fifth.

Up Next: The middle game of this three-game set will start Saturday at 6:10 PM Central. The pitching matchup will be Luke Weaver (1-7, 6.70 ERA) for Arizona and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.22 ERA) for Houston.

astros recap astros vs diamondbacks mlb mlb recap zack greinke george springer kyle tucker kole calhoun astros

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome