VYPE
The month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Originally Appeared on VYPE
HUMBLE – When people walk into a high school football stadium it is easy to see who is cheering for which team.
When fans walk through the gates into Humble ISD's Turner Stadium on Friday night, that might be a difficult task, considering most people will not be wearing their team colors.
Usually, when Atascocita and Kingwood clash, the colors strewn throughout the stands are red, blue and white. Red for the Atascocita Eagles and blue for the Mustangs of Kingwood.
But not this night.
In what has become a rivalry game between the Humble ISD programs, fans will be trading in their traditional school-color-coded shirts for golden #GoldFightWin t-shirts.
"It's a great opportunity to show how we can come together to support something that's bigger than football," Kingwood's Parker Hemphill said. "It's a great way to raise awareness for a cause like this."
Atascocita quarterback Brice Matthews added: "It just makes our rivalry more fun and eventful knowing that we are playing for a bigger cause than just winning a football game. And to know that those kids are going be watching us makes it better and that we are privileged to be in the position we are in today."
The #GoldFightWin initiative is a combined effort between Humble Independent School District and local non-profit organizations Addi's Faith Foundation, L3 Foundation and Mother's Against Cancer to raise awareness about pediatric cancer.
"Things like this are things our players and their players will remember that for a long time, probably forever," Atascocita coach Craig Stump said. "That back when they were in high school, they played a game that was recognized. It doesn't add to the football part of it but I think in your memory to be a part of that, to be asked to be a part of that as a program, it's a special thing to be a part of."
The month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the color dedicated to raising awareness Is gold.
For the players, they will still be in their traditional uniforms but instead of wearing their normal socks, they will be traded in for gold ones.
Read more about the Gold initiative here
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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