The Battalion — June 8, 2023

Eats & Beats returns for summer

Bi-weekly festivities come back to Bryan offering family fun, food, live music

By Nadia Abusaid @NadiaAtTheBatt

Eats & Beats, Lake Walk’s summer concert series, is held every other Saturday in Bryan with free live music and catered food trucks.

On June 3 from 7 - 10 p.m., Lake Walk hosted the first Eats & Beats of the summer in its pavilion with food trucks such as Fusion Peru Restaurant, Raging Bull Street Tacos, Sweet Pops and Three Sweet Pops stationed nearby.

The Leslie Lugo Band, a Grammy Award-winning cover band, began their performance at 8 p.m. as part of the event’s Latin-inspired theme.

Lake Walk’s Marketing and Events Director Kate Chapman said guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and prepare for a night outdoors with free live entertainment, local food and a bar.

“The musical lineups are very diverse, each lineup has a different genre,” Chapman said. “I love when we have blues artists, they really just rock and jam out.”

Blues, Americana and classic rock are some of the genres to look forward to at this summer’s concert series, Lake Walk’s Special Events Coordinator Tristan Estrada said.

“The thing I like most about the Eats & Beats event is that it brings music to the area that you wouldn’t typically find,” Estrada said.

The next Eats & Beats events will be on June 17 featuring the Sue Foley Band, July 1 featuring Sun Valley Station, July 15 featuring Jack Thweatt and July 29 featuring Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers, according to Lake Walk’s website.

In this edition:

NEWS: Presidential nomination for Aggie ON PG. 2

NEWS: Cracking down on catalytic converter theft ON PG. 2

SPORTS: 2023 baseball season comes to a close ON PG. 4 - 5

Snacks like popcorn, ice cream and shaved ice were available in addition to the Latin-inspired foods. Sweet Pops kettle corn returned to Eats & Beats this past Saturday not only with a new food truck, but with new flavors as well, Sweet Pops owner Jodi Alejandro said. She started the business with her husband Jamie in 2016.

“I really like just the communal part of it, it’s more of the family-oriented that come more to the smaller events like this,” Alejandro said.

Sweet Pops, a family-owned local business, offers seasonal flavors like their red, white and blue flavor which returns in July.

“Sometimes we have family and friends that come, or sometimes we just have our follow-

ers that will come to the events that we’re at,” Alejandro said. “It’s fun to see the returning customers.”

Lawn games and giveaways were provided by BigShots Golf for attendees to enjoy prior to the concert. The fan zone was operated by Boost Your Brand Marketing Coordinator Corryn Monaco and her co-worker Kaylee Smith, who were advertising BigShots Golf.

“I have been loving me and [Smith] blowing bubbles and all the little kids running around in the yard and seeing that there are bubbles over here,” said Monaco. “Honestly, that really made my night and it made her night too, just like seeing the excitement on everyone’s face.”

OPINION: Too many 2-percenters ON PG. 6

PHOTOS: Aggie baseball moments

ON PG. 4 - 5

Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION

Guests enjoy th elive performance by the Leslie Lugo Band during the Eats & Beats summer concert series at Lake Walk in Brayn, Texas on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Aggie rising up the ranks

Former student nominated for highest Marine Corps position

ByAna Renfroe @aeoenia

Four-star Gen. Eric Smith, Class of 1987, was recently nominated on May 31 by President Biden to serve as the next commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Since October 2021, Smith has served as the assistant commandant, the second-highest ranking position in the Marine Corps. Smith was the 10th Aggie to ever earn a four-star ranking in the military, according to the Texas A&M Foundation.

If the Senate confirms Smith’s nomination, Smith will become the Marine Corps’ 39th commandant, commanding the branch’s active duty and reserve personnel, totaling over 200,000 Marines. Additionally, he would serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helping ensure readiness of the entire U.S. military.

While at Texas A&M, Smith was a leader in the Corps of Cadets. He served as commander of the Fightin’ Aggie Texas Band and a member of the Ross Volunteer Company, according to Texas A&M Today. Upon graduating with his political science degree, Smith was commissioned into the Marines through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, or NROTC, program.

Texas fights theft

In the early 2000s, Smith returned to Texas A&M to teach for a tour, serving as a Marine office instructor.

“The older I get, the more I appreciate what I learned at Texas A&M and in the Aggie Band,” Smith said to the Texas A&M Foundation, reflecting on his time at A&M.

“The university and Bryan-College Station are fundamentally good, and as someone who has been to some of the worst places on the planet, I can truly say [A&M] is irreplicable.”

Serving over 36 years, Smith has garnered extensive leadership experience from multiple previously-held positions, overseas deployments, tours and missions, commanding at every level during the Gulf War, Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. According to his Marine Corps biography, Smith led Marines during Operation Assured Response, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Smith has also commanded the USMC Forces Southern Command, 1st Marine Division, III Expeditionary Force and the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

For his service, Smith holds a number of accolades, including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, a Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals and a Purple Heart.

The Senate will examine Smith’s nomination to serve as the next USMC commandant on Tuesday, June 13.

Bipartisan effort

harshens catalytic converter crime penalties

By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed S.B. 224 into law on Monday, May 29, to address the rising number of catalytic converter thefts statewide. The law went into effect on the same day.

The bipartisan bill, authored by District 6 Sen. Carol Alvarado and District 15 Sen. John Whitmire creates harsher penalties by making catalytic converter thefts a felony and grants prosecutors flexibility to treat thefts as acts of organized crime.

Amending the penal code to consider this type of theft as a separate offense means the crime can be categorized based on the stolen property value.

If the stolen value is less than $30,000, it is considered a state jail felony. If the value exceeds $30,000, the offense can be upgraded to a third-degree felony. If the value exceeds $150,000, it becomes a second-degree felony. If the value exceeds $300,000, it becomes a first-degree felony.

Additionally, if the person who commits the theft is caught in possession of a firearm, prosecutors can upgrade the offense to the next highest level.

S.B. 224 presumes those who possess two or more catalytic converters removed from vehicles are stolen if the owner is unable to prove it is lawfully theirs, according to a bill analysis by the Texas Senate Research Center.

Anyone found in possession of a stolen catalytic converter can be charged with a felony, even if they aren’t caught in the act. However, the bill offers protections for certain busi-

nesses, such as metal recycling businesses or repair shops, that may obtain stolen catalytic converters under good faith.

In recent years, catalytic converter thefts have become a national concern. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or NICB, insurance claims for these thefts have risen from 16,000 to 64,701 claims nationwide between 2020 and 2022.

In 2022, Texas ranked second in thefts, averaging 136 thefts per every 100,000 automobiles, according to data analysis from BeenVerified.

In a May 10 press release, President and CEO of the NICB David Glawe said the new data of surging thefts is only a snapshot of an underreported crime that affects communities nationwide.

“While a catalytic converter can be removed in just a few minutes, for vehicle owners, the cost is much more than the replacement parts,” Glawe said. “Victims must find alternate transportation, schedule necessary repairs and may face loss of work as a result.”

Alvarado created the bill with public safety in mind, she said in an interview with KBTX. Ultimately, she was compelled to take action after the shooting and death of Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez.

“He and his wife were coming out of a grocery store and interrupted three guys stealing a catalytic converter from his truck,” Alvarado said, according to KBTX. “He was shot and killed right there in front of his wife.”

In remembrance, the S.B. 224 authors named the bill the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act.

“The theft of catalytic converters has become a very organized crime,” Alvarado said, according to KBTX. “A very dangerous crime and sophisticated. It’s happening way too much. We’ll have a bill that really tackles this crime.”

‘A cruel but beautiful game’

Sports editor Hunter Mitchell reflects on 2023 baseball season

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

Hopes for a heartland homecoming

After a historic 2022 campaign that saw Texas A&M baseball make it the farthest the program has ever been in the College World Series, expectations were lofty for 2023. Returning almost all of its production from last year in names like junior Jack Moss and senior Austin Bost and with impact transfers like former Arizona State junior Hunter Haas, many had high hopes for the Aggies across the country.

Piloted off course

After opening the season with a sweep of the Seattle University Redhawks, things seemed par for the course for A&M to open the season, despite losing senior Brett Minnich in his first at-bat for six weeks due to a hand injury. That is until Lamar — whom the Aggies had scrimmaged against the prior fall — stunned A&M in its first midweek game of the season, defeating them 7-4. Regardless, midweek losses happen all the time in college baseball. All that mattered is the Aggies taking care of business in their weekend series.

In the second weekend of the year against its second West Coast opponent, A&M was upset by the Portland Pilots, who flew into College Station and steered their way to a series victory. It would have been a sweep, if not for a 2-run walk-off double from freshman Jace LaViolette to salvage Game 3. Now the national attention towards the Aggies had turned negative. What happened to the team that made the CWS the year prior?

Rematches new and old in H-Town

In the much anticipated Shriners Children’s College Classic, A&M looked to right its season back on course against a foe with fresh wounds courtesy of the Aggies. The Louisville Cardinals had their season ended by A&M in the Super Regionals last year and were looking for revenge.

Revenge is exactly what they got. The Aggies were only spared being run-ruled by the Cardinals due to a five-run seventh inning, headlined by a three-run home run off the bat of Bost to force A&M and Louisville to play two more merciful innings.

In Game 2 of the weekend against the hometown team, the Aggies looked like the team that won the SEC West the season pri-

or, run-ruling the Rice Owls. This gave them momentum into Game 3 against their old Big 12 rivals.

The matchup of A&M and Texas Tech was the final game of the weekend, and what a finale it was. The Red Raiders were coming into the game hot at 11-1 on the year and were looking to jump on the Aggies to close out the weekend.

In an all-out pitcher’s duel, sophomore Chris Cortez got the start and went 5.1 innings, only allowing one run on three hits. Freshman Shane Sdao gave up another, but only two runs should be manageable enough for an offense to overcome. That is, unless the other pitching staff did the same. Deep into the Texas night, the Aggies battled pitch after pitch against the Red Raiders. Junior Evan Aschenbeck, whose name was almost unknown prior to the weekend, stepped up and delivered 4.2 innings of no-hit baseball, with eight strikeouts to go along with it. Moss delivered the separating run in the top of the 16th inning, and junior Trevor Werner tacked on another to close out the longest game in Shriners Children’s College Classic history, 4-2.

Week 1 against No. 1

It was finally time for conference play in arguably the most difficult conference in college baseball, and what a first draw the Aggies

got. In the first weekend of SEC play, A&M welcomed the No. 1 LSU Tigers to Olsen Field, looking to pull off a colossal upset in front of the 12th Man.

In the Friday night game, the Aggies were suffocated by projected 2023 Top 5 pick Paul Skenes, as the right-hander went 6.1 innings and only allowed four hits.

The Aggies fared no better in Game 2, managing to score this time but still dropping the contest 12-7. Now, all A&M was looking to do was avoid a conference-opening home sweep. And avoid that they did, as junior Stanley Tucker laced a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the Aggies in front, stealing the final game of the series from the Tigers.

UT K.O.

A&M continued to slide, as after winning a walk-off midweek game against a familiar opponent in the Rice Owls, the Aggies hit the road to Lindsey Nelson Stadium to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee was fresh off of a road series sweep at the hands of the Missouri Tigers, so A&M looked to take advantage of the seemingly vulnerable Volunteers.

The illusion of weakness was shed as soon as Tennessee arrived back home, and the Aggies were outmatched from Game 1. The only close contest came in Game 2, as A&M lost via

a walk-off sacrifice fly. But the same way a win is a win, a loss is a loss, and the Aggies had to put the sweep behind them with a date lined up with their most storied rival.

The midweek matchup against the University of Texas came with many precedents, as the Longhorns had lost the last three regular-season games against the Aggies and, more importantly, were eliminated by the maroon and white in the College World Series the year prior. It’s hard to keep a good rival down for that long, and for the first time since 2011, “The Eyes of Texas” echoed throughout Blue Bell Park as those clad in burnt orange were finally about to sing for the visiting team from Austin. The Aggies lost 5-2, and the sour taste still lingered.

Regular season round out

After beginning SEC play 1-5, A&M appeared dead in the water. For a team that seemed a shoo-in for a potential national championship run, the Aggies were now in question of even making the tournament at all.

Opportunity struck when another struggling SEC opponent traveled to College Station, as the Ole Miss Rebels came with similar problems as A&M. Both programs began the year in the top five, and both had a fall from grace. This series would dictate the trajectory of both schools.

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

The players watch the fireworks after a game versus the University of Alabama on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Blue Bell Park.

After winning Game 1, the Aggies dropped Game 2 to set up the Sunday rubber match. In poetic fashion, junior Ryan Targac gave A&M a spark, or rather, some magic, with a walk-off home run to give the Aggies their first series victory since Northern Kentucky.

The streak did not stop there, as A&M went on to rattle off three more conference series victories in a row with wins over Auburn, Missouri and Kentucky. In the stretch of four weekends, the maroon and white now had four series wins under their belt.

The streak quickly and forcefully ended at Baum-Walker Stadium, as the Arkansas Razorbacks swept A&M, bringing the Aggies back to Earth. This didn’t stop the maroon and white from reaching cloud nine the following weekend, as they upset the No. 4 Florida Gators at home. The Game 2 victory came handily, as the Aggies run-ruled the Gators 15-2, and Game 3 was another dose of Olsen Magic, this time via a balk-off victory.

In the final home series, A&M welcomed the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the series did not go down without a hitch. After the Aggies took Game 1, rain hindered the flow of Game 2, but finished early thanks to a Crimson Tide run rule. Game 3 was initially canceled due to large threats of inclement weather into the night. However, after much confusion, it was announced it was simply suspended, and the game that was originally scheduled for midday started at 7 p.m. The start time mattered not, as A&M was crushed by Alabama heading into the final conference series.

On the road against Mississippi State, things got off to a rocky start. Despite A&M jumping out to a late lead, the Bulldogs made some home-field magic of their own, walking off the Aggies with a two-run home run to put A&M down 0-1 in the series. Although the emotions could have gotten to the Aggies after Game 1, the maroon and white secured a close victory in Game 2 thanks to ninth-inning heroics from LaViolette, tying up the series. In an offensive affair, A&M finished off the regular season with one final series victory in Game 3. Next stop: Hoover, Alabama.

Bubble, bubble, it’s no trouble

Going into the SEC Tournament as a ten seed, the Aggies were placed firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. So, A&M needed a strong showing to put them firmly into the field and avoid any bated breath come Selection Sunday.

To call what the Aggies did a strong showing would be an understatement.

Sophomore Troy Wansing, who had struggled for most of the season, came into Game 1 of the tournament and pitched eight innings of 1-hit work against a Tennessee squad that swept A&M earlier in the season, moving the Aggies into the next round with a 3-0 victory.

The familiarity did not end there, as the Aggies took on Arkansas next. Despite rallying late to force extra innings, the Razorbacks played spoiler with a walk-off home run to put the Aggies one loss away from going home. Not to be outdone by Wansing, freshman Justin Lamkin pitched his own one-hit victory in the elimination game against South Carolina in Game 3, allowing the offense to cruise to a 5-0 victory. In the history of the SEC Tournament, there have been nine one-hit games. A&M has three of those, and two came in the same tournament.

Next up was the LSU Tigers, a brutal draw for anyone. After going up two runs going into the seventh, the Aggies got into trouble in the ninth, as a wild pitch scored an LSU run to cut the lead to just one. With two runners in scoring position, junior Evan Aschenbeck forced a strikeout and a flyout, forcing exhales from the Aggies and giving them a rematch against Arkansas.

The fifth time’s the charm. After losing four in a row to the Razorbacks, A&M finally secured a victory in the semifinal round when it mattered most. The Aggies became just the first double-digit seed to ever make the SEC Tournament final, and despite coming up short in the championship game to Vanderbilt, A&M had firmly secured a spot in the postseason.

California Dreamin’

Only one regional was hosted west of Texas, and only one school not from the state of California was in it. Taking the trip to Palo Alto, California, the Aggies packed their bags for the Stanford regional.

In the opening round game against Cal State Fullerton, A&M fell behind early, but the bats ignited in response. The Aggies tallied 11 runs by the fourth inning and were able to cruise to a 12-7 victory.

Their next opponent was the regional host, Stanford. The Cardinal — much like the Titans the night prior — jumped out to an early lead. Despite this, A&M rallied late thanks to a bases-clearing double off the bat of Haas, putting the Aggies one win away from a super regional date with their arch-rivals, Texas.

Unfortunately for the Aggie faithful, the magic faded. The next two games against Stanford, in which A&M only needed to win one, were uncontested. The maroon and white were crushed by their West Coast foe, as the Cardinal simply seemed like too much to handle.

After two quick nights, the Aggies’ season drew to a close in seemingly the blink of an eye.

Baseball is a cruel

but beautiful game

Despite the season not living up to expectations, there were many memorable moments. Bost secured his 200th career hit as an Aggie in

regional play, LaViolette set the A&M freshman home run record, A&M became the only double-digit seed to make the SEC Tournament finals and plenty of Olsen Magic.

Seniors like Jordan Thompson, Brett Minnich and Bost, who endured a coaching change and COVID-19 before getting to enjoy the College World Series, draw their college ca-

reers to a close. Freshmen like LaViolette and Max Kaufer showed signs of greatness, and the foundation was laid for years to come. Now all eyes in College Station turn to the offseason and MLB draft, looking to see what faces, new and old, will be in the dugout at the corner of Bush and Olsen in 2024.

Megan Williams, Robert O’Brien and Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION

Opinion: Take the time to be an Aggie

Former opinion writer Lilia Elizondo

By Lilia Elizondo @LiliaElizondo5

I have committed the foulest of crimes and the most sinful of actions. Yes, I must confess … to not being a red-ass Aggie.

Alright, before you raise your pitchforks reading this, I am here to tell you that I am far from a two-percenter. Nevertheless, to say that I am the most traditional Aggie, unfortunately, is not the truth. As most of you know, I refuse to use a horns down symbol or hiss when someone mentions U.T. — a stance I still maintain.

However, I am here to say I regret not being able to participate more in our traditions. The worst part is that it kind of just happened accidentally. I came into college as a junior — courtesy of dual enrollment and AP tests — I wasn’t able to take a Hullabaloo course because of scheduling conflicts and evaded Fish Camp due to a last-minute family emergency.

On top of all these unfortunate circumstances, I’ll also admit that I’m in a possibly toxic relationship with studying. Midnight Yells, football games and other events just never felt like they fit my schedule or I just didn’t know they existed, but I won’t completely absolve myself of my crimes because I could

have tried more.

I want Aggies to take me as their cautionary tale of woe. I regret not putting the time and effort into participating in more traditions. I want the two-percenters out there, and even just lukewarm Aggies, to realize they’re missing out on an entire experience that they will never get anywhere else.

Texas A&M offers a culture that unites many. The fact that we are able to cultivate a singular identity in a community with tens of thousands of people is astounding.

I have great uncles, second cousins and distant aunts who are able to understand my A&M references. Given we usually only talk about the weather, hearing them whoop when I mentioned receiving my ring is pretty darn cool.

With traditions like The Big Event, Aggies contribute to the community through a day devoted to selfless service. Silver Taps and Aggie Muster demonstrates that being an Aggie goes beyond just going to the same school. It’s a connection that extends a lifetime.

Besides being morally fulfilling, our traditions are good ole’ fun too! We get to burn some wood and make a giant bonfire, throw Veo bikes on top of random locations, whoop and drink an entire pitcher of beer. Some of you may already do this regularly, but the fact that there is a tradition normalizing it is pretty hilarious.

Even the more “difficult” traditions bond us Aggies together. I still remember the lactic acid buildup in my calves from standing the entire ‘Bama game, but complaining about it with

my fellow freshman friends made it a whole lot more memorable.

There’s a good chance that two-percenters and non-red-ass Aggies aren’t even reading this, so I encourage those of you who are ardent followers of A&M’s traditions to guide everyone into following your footsteps.

For legal reasons I am not condoning kidnapping. All I am saying is make it like any other fun hangout that you were already going to with a friend because that’s all these traditions are — a fun opportunity to make memories with the people you love.

All you need to do is say: “Hey, let’s get food and go to Silver Taps after,” “I signed you and our friends up to do Big Event and then go watch a movie tonight,” “Let’s go to the football game and then Northgate after” or anything along those lines is good enough.

I know that sounds like subtle trickery, but hey, they’ll probably have fun. Who says no to food, movies and drinks? And if they don’t, at least you tried.

Now for those of you who are perhaps two-percenters or half-foot in Aggies, I am not demanding you to paint your face maroon and screech every time someone mentions U.T. I’m just suggesting baby steps.

It’s important to put in effort any way you can. Whether going to one more event than you usually do or inviting your friends to hundreds of events, we remember that A&M’s traditions are worth fighting for.

Lilia Elizondo is a member of the Class of 2023 and former opinion writer for The Battalion.

The Battalion wants to hear from you!

Our editorial staff is eager to feature a diverse set of voices from across the Aggie family. This summer is no different and we are inviting everyone to submit guest editorials.

From state politics to your time on campus, we believe our readership benefits from your expertise and perspectives. If it’s something on Aggie’s minds or something that should be, we want to hear about it.

The ideal submission would be between 600-1,000 words and be easily accessible to a general audience. Questions and guest contributions can be sent to opinion@thebatt.com.

We look forward to reviewing your work!

says give traditions a try and you won’t be disappointed

- Caleb Elizondo, opinion editor

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Ruben Hernandez, Editor-in-Chief

Ishika Samant, Managing Editor

Ana Renfroe, News Editor

Jack Lee, Asst. News Editor

Kyle Heise, Photo Chief

Anna Deardorff, Life & Arts Editor

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Caleb Elizondo, Opinion Editor

Luke White, Sports Editor

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