February by the Numbers
APCL Fall Blast 2025 – Season Wrap-Up and Finals
The APCL Fall Blast 2025 season concluded with two thrilling finals. We celebrate the champions and thank every captain, umpire, and volunteer who made the competition possible.
Champions and runners-up
Families at the Fall Blast awards
Award night brought together players, parents, and kids—moments that show how HCCA builds community and celebrates culture on and off the field.
2026 Membership Registrations – In Full Swing
In less than two weeks in February, 305 membership registrations were processed and added to 2026 team rosters in time for the 2026 season kickoff.
Behind the scenes, the Board continues payment confirmations, email inquiries, and reconciliations. If you have questions about registration status or payment, please check the website or reach out to the Board — we are here to help.
APCL Spring Blast 2026 – Kickoff and Schedule
The 2026 APCL Spring Blast officially kicked off in February. Captains met to finalize the schedule and align on format and rules.
The first game of the season was played on February 28. March will bring more matches and exciting cricket across both divisions. We look forward to another competitive season.
Umpiring Registrations and Clinics
Umpires are essential for fair, high-quality cricket. Umpire registrations and clinics are underway for the Spring Blast season.
If you are interested in becoming an umpire or sharpening your skills, we encourage you to participate. Details are available on the website and through Board communications.
Youth Program Updates
The Youth Program has kicked off with strong momentum. Several meetings have taken place among parents, coaches, and the Board to align on structure, expectations, and goals for the season.
Facilities Update – Hutto Ground Maintenance
Ground work is planned at the Hutto Cricket Ground for March. Soil and sod will be added on the leg side to cover stones and improve playing conditions and player safety.
Thank you to the grounds team and volunteers for their commitment to maintaining HCCA's facilities. Quality grounds are central to our mission.
Board of Directors – Behind the Scenes
The volunteer Board has invested significant time in February. Over 12–15 meetings and 400+ collective hours have gone into registrations, league planning, youth programs, finances, and governance.
We appreciate every hour our Board members donate to serve the HCCA community.
HCCA History – Part 1: Where Passion Built a Dream
Every great institution has an origin story. HCCA began with fifteen people jumping over a locked fence on a hot Texas weekend in 1997, determined to play the game they loved.
In 1997, the Round Rock High School football field sat behind padlocked gates on weekends. A small group of cricket enthusiasts found each other through word of mouth. They scaled the fence, passed their kits over, and played—even though there weren’t enough for two full teams. Batting pairs were numbered so everyone could bat, bowl, and field. The grass was tall, there were no boundaries or sightscreens, and summers reached 110 degrees while winters dipped to 50. They played anyway, keeping alive a sport that carried memories of home and identity in a new land.
By 1998, the group wanted legitimacy. They approached the middle school principal, offered to maintain the field, and made a donation to the school library. The principal said yes. Word spread; the group grew to twenty-five. Weekend matches became community events. Families came. The cricket circle expanded.
Having a field was one thing; having a cricket ground was another. A road construction crew working nearby was hired to excavate 15 yards and fill it with limestone. All fifteen members took turns rolling it over the weekends until it was solid and playable. Play continued, and a few weeks later they purchased their first cricket mat—unrolled before each match, stored like treasure afterward. Through communal effort, they transformed an open field into a functional cricket ground.
Shafi, Shakir, Palinda, Shyam, and Sanjay Saksena were among the original fence-jumpers. John, Ashish, Amit, Sanjay Singh, Hemant, and Mike joined as the vision expanded—diplomats and organizers who talked to administrators, coordinated with crews, and managed a growing player base. These pioneers didn’t wait for perfect conditions; they created them.
Closing Note
Thank you to all members, families, and volunteers for your support. March will bring more matches, youth activities, and ground improvements. We look forward to sharing HCCA History – Part 2 in the next newsletter.
Warm regards,
HCCA Board of Directors 2026–2027
Contact Us
Email: contact@hccacricket.org
Board: hcca_bod@googlegroups.com
Website: www.hccacricket.org
About HCCA
Hill Country Cricket Association (HCCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Central Texas since 2002, with 500+ members across Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander.
Our Mission:
“Promote humanistic values by celebrating and commemorating cultural diversity that exists in people of different backgrounds brought together by the sport of cricket.”