NO NEED FOR EXPLANATION as to what dominates this week’s schedule…
Wednesday: Game 2 of the World Series will feature an equally explosive pitching matchup to the Game 1 clash between the Nationals’ Max Scherzer and the Astros’ Gerrit Cole. Washington will start Stephen Strasburg (18-6, 3.32 ERA in the regular season) against Houston’s Justin Verlander (21-6, 2.58 ERA). Expect plenty of strikeouts, as Verlander recorded 300 Ks in the regular season while Strasburg fanned 251 batters. KRIV 26 will have the game live beginning with the pregame show at 6:30pm before first pitch at 7:07pm.
The day is also the first day for high school girls’ basketball workouts across the state. While Clear Springs is expected to be (again) the area’s top program, a sleeper to watch for will be La Marque. Coach Andrew Broussard returns all but one player from last year’s team that pushed state-ranked North Forest to the limit in a 65-61 bi-district round loss. The Cougars, who won just two games in 2017-18, could themselves emerge as a potential postseason threat.
Thursday: A big week in Houston professional sports carries over to Toyota Center, where the Rockets host reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the regular season opener for both teams. The game will feature the Association’s past three MVPs as James Harden (2017-18) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17) perform together for the first time since the two were part of a Thunder team that won the Western Conference championship in 2012. TNT will have the game live at 7:00pm.
Friday: For the first time since October 7, 1933, a World Series game will be played in the nation’s capital as the Nationals host the Astros in Game 3. No official word has been set, but the projected pitching matchup will have Houston’s Zack Greinke (18-5, 2.98 ERA) against Washington hurler Patrick Corbin (14-7, 3.25 ERA). KRIV 26 will have the game at 7:07pm, shortly after the pregame show at 6:30pm.
Not to be overshadowed, the final Friday of the high school volleyball regular season starts at 4:30pm with Baytown Lee at Friendswood and Goose Creek Memorial at Galveston Ball. Clear Brook at Alvin, Clear Falls at Clear Creek, Clear Springs at Clear Lake and Tidehaven at Hitchcock are each 6:00pm starts, while Santa Fe at Crosby and Texas City at Galena Park will start at 6:30pm.
Saturday: Game 4 of the World Series is a rematch of Game 1 between Scherzer (11-7, 2.92 ERA) and Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA). KRIV 26 will have the game live at 7:07pm, with the pregame show starting at 6:30pm.
It’s an either/or for Rockets fans, who will get the chance to see the new-look Pelicans when they visit Toyota Center for a 7:00pm tip. Unfortunately, the new-look Pels won’t have first overall pick Zion Williamson suited up, as the rookie will miss the first portion of the season with a knee injury. AT&T Sportsnet Southwest makes its 2019-20 regular season debut with the pregame show at 6:30pm.
Nationally-ranked SMU gallops into Houston for prime time clash
THE FOOTBALL WEEKEND KICKS off early with a showdown between an SMU squad that has become one of the surprise stories of the college football season against a Houston team struggling to stay bowl-eligible. In high school ball, a host of area teams find themselves in must-win situations in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Thursday: La Marque hits the road for a clash against Houston Washington at Dyer Stadium beginning at 7:00pm.
Undefeated and nationally-ranked SMU visits Houston for a nationally televised game on ESPN beginning at 6:30pm. The game will have a host of local players on both teams, as #16 SMU has Dickinson’s Terry Keys III and the Friendswood pair of Tyler Page and Ben Redding on their roster. Meanwhile, Houston has Clear Springs’ Peyton Sawyer, D.J. Small of Dickinson, Jordan Milburn of Galveston Ball and La Marque’s Aymiel Fleming.
One other college football game is on the slate as Prairie View hosts Jackson State at 6:30pm. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
Friday: The high school schedule starts with Clear Springs at Alvin, Clear Falls at Clear Lake, Clear Brook at state-ranked Dickinson, Fort Bend Hightower at Friendswood, Terry at Galveston Ball and Angleton at Texas City beginning at 7:00pm. Rice at Hitchcock and Port Neches-Groves at Santa Fe will each kick off at 7:30pm.
Saturday: The final Saturday of October begins with Mississippi State at Texas A&M (SEC Network) at 11:00am followed by Southeastern Louisiana at Houston Baptist (ESPN3), and Southern Mississippi at Rice (ESPN+) both start at 12:00pm. Texas Southern at Mississippi Valley State begins at 2:00pm. TCU hosts #15 Texas (KRIV 26) at 2:30pm, while McNeese State visits Stephen F. Austin (ESPN+) at 3:00pm. The day concludes with Sam Houston State at Central Arkansas (ESPN+) at 6:00pm.
