Navasota grad persists despite injuries

Successive injuries haven’t kept Marquez Byrd from completing his football career.

The Navasota High School graduate will utilize his final year of eligibility for the University of Texas Permian Basin.

A recent Master of Business Administration graduate from the school, the defensive end is a full-time student who is a redshirt senior as far as playing eligibility.

The 6-foot-2 Byrd appeared in three games during the spring after receiving a medical redshirt for the 2019 season because of hernia surgery in May 2019.

He played the past season with ulnar nerve damage to his right arm. “I wasn’t fully able to play 100 percent,” he said. “I wore a sleeve to protect it. I wore a brace to keep from bending my arm. I was not able to bend it more than 90 degrees.”

He underwent surgery in May to correct the nerve problem. “I’m just a tough person in general,” he said. “I don’t like to quit.”

He has resumed normal training to be ready for the season. “Before I had the surgery, I wasn’t able to do much,” he said. “I wasn’t able to lift a lot.” With the consecutive surgeries, he gained weight but said he is back to 245 pounds, his playing weight his junior season, and his strength has returned.

Baseball

Washington Nationals Triple A pitcher Tyler Eppler had a 2-7 record and 7.19 earned run average in 17 appearances, including 13 starters, for Rochester. The former Rattler threw an inning in each of his first two August outings, both in relief.

Pitcher Trent Clark has transferred to East Texas Baptist University. The past Rattler had no record and an 11.57 ERA in three relief appearances for University of Arkansas at Monticello during the spring.

Pitcher Josh Mancuso had a 5-2 record and 3.18 ERA in 10 appearances for Acadiana of the summer Texas Collegiate League. The Nicholls State University left-hander, who is out of Anderson-Shiro High, led the league in victories.

Send updates about area athletes to Barbara Boxleitner at jdanddoc@gmail.com.