LamarStatesports

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men's basketball team will play 17 home games during the 2009-10 season, the largest number of home games in a season since the program started in 2004. Lamar State played at home only once that first year, nine times the second season and 13 times in each of the past three seasons. The Seahawks play seven of their first 10 games at home this year, which pleases first-year head coach Matt Cross. "We are excited about our schedule, which will give our talented freshman class an opportunity early in the year to gain some collegiate playing experience in their own backyard," Cross said. "We also hope to create excitement and interest in the community by getting off to a great start. We believe our faculty, staff, students, alumni and fans deserve a chance to experience winning basketball this year in the Parker Center." Cross hopes to see large crowds at home games. "We want to play in front of a packed house at the Parker Center this year because we know that in order for us to make a championship run in Region XIV, we must win our home games." Lamar State College-PA also will host its first home tournament, Nov. 6-7, which will include Lamar State, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Coastal Bend College and the Dallas Diesel. The Seahawks begin scrimmage games this coming weekend at the Dallas Shootout, and will play three more sets of scrimmage contests before kicking off the season at home Monday, Nov. 2, against Southern University-Shreveport. Lamar State begins its second year in the Division I Region XIV conference with a Nov. 21 home matchup with Lon Morris College. Other home games on the schedule are Victoria College (Nov. 9), Lone Star College-Tomball (Nov. 11), Angelina College (Dec. 2), Delgado College (Jan. 4), Jacksonville College (Jan. 6), Baton Rouge Community College (Jan. 9), Navarro College (Jan. 16), Bossier Parish Community College (Jan. 23), Trinity Valley Community College (Jan. 30), San Jacinto College (Feb. 11), Blinn College (Feb. 17), Panola College (Feb. 24) and Lee College (Feb. 27). To view the schdule on-line, go to: [Hidden Content]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men's basketball team will play 17 home games during the 2009-10 season, the largest number of home games in a season since the program started in 2004. Lamar State played at home only once that first year, nine times the second season and 13 times in each of the past three seasons. The Seahawks play seven of their first 10 games at home this year, which pleases first-year head coach Matt Cross. "We are excited about our schedule, which will give our talented freshman class an opportunity early in the year to gain some collegiate playing experience in their own backyard," Cross said. "We also hope to create excitement and interest in the community by getting off to a great start. We believe our faculty, staff, students, alumni and fans deserve a chance to experience winning basketball this year in the Parker Center." Cross hopes to see large crowds at home games. "We want to play in front of a packed house at the Parker Center this year because we know that in order for us to make a championship run in Region XIV, we must win our home games." Lamar State College-PA also will host its first home tournament, Nov. 6-7, which will include Lamar State, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Coastal Bend College and the Dallas Diesel. The Seahawks begin scrimmage games this coming weekend at the Dallas Shootout, and will play three more sets of scrimmage contests before kicking off the season at home Monday, Nov. 2, against Southern University-Shreveport. Lamar State begins its second year in the Division I Region XIV conference with a Nov. 21 home matchup with Lon Morris College. Other home games on the schedule are Victoria College (Nov. 9), Lone Star College-Tomball (Nov. 11), Angelina College (Dec. 2), Delgado College (Jan. 4), Jacksonville College (Jan. 6), Baton Rouge Community College (Jan. 9), Navarro College (Jan. 16), Bossier Parish Community College (Jan. 23), Trinity Valley Community College (Jan. 30), San Jacinto College (Feb. 11), Blinn College (Feb. 17), Panola College (Feb. 24) and Lee College (Feb. 27). To view the schdule on-line, go to: [Hidden Content]

You are correct. Six players and a coach were sick as of Friday, so they dropped out of the event. Barring further illness, the Lamar State softball team will travel to San Antonio this Saturday for three scrimmage games against teams from Trinity University, University of the Incarnate Word and Our Lady of the Lake University. The Seahawks will face their former centerfielder, Hannah Godina, when they play Our Lady of the Lake. Godina, a 2008 Monsignor Kelly High School graduate, was a starter for Lamar State this past spring and then accepted a scholarship offer from the Saints, a first-year program that will compete in the Red River Conference.

Just a week after Lamar State College-Port Arthur began its fall semester, head softball coach Vance Edwards is preparing his team for competition in the short fall scrimmage schedule that ends in mid-October. The Seahawks will see their first action Saturday in Galveston against several 18-under Gold teams. Edwards has four of seven freshmen starters back from his 2009 team – outfielder Sami Jo Williams and second baseman Ashley Corcoran from Port Neches-Groves, first baseman Chelsea Brown from Kirbyville and third baseman Lauren Angelle from Bridge City. Angelle’s twin sister, Jenna, also is back in action after recovering from a broken bone in her throwing hand and being red-shirted for the season so she would not lose a year of eligibility. Lamar State begins the fall without starting catcher Heather Pinder, who is not enrolled this semester, and starting centerfielder Hannah Godina, who recently signed a scholarship offer from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, a first-year NAIA program that will play in the Red River Conference. But as one local player leaves, another one returns home. Former Nederland High School standout Katelyn Worsham, who signed in 2008 with Southern Arkansas University, joins the Seahawks this fall to give the team another experienced infielder and a switch-hitter. Edwards also added six freshmen to his squad – catcher Samantha Lunceford from Port Neches-Groves, pitcher Paige Blucher from Baytown, pitcher/outfielder Lacey Simmons from Jersey Village, outfielder Kirstyn Krugman from Dayton, outfielder Brittani Chance from Little Cypress-Mauriceville, and pitcher Emalee Kenon from Vidor, who led Monsignor Kelly High School to the 2009 TAPPS state championship game. Seahawks softball information is available on the LSC-PA website: www.lamarpa.edu.

Durley also is a HJ graduate. He was a reserve on the junior college D-III national championship team at Richland College in Dallas this past year.

Actually, it is Brown's fault and no one else's that he is not playing basketball at the college level. He didn't take care of business in the classroom in high school and there seems to be a question as to whether or not he earned a high school diploma. His academic shortcomings are why he isn't playing at UT or anyplace else. Mr. Brown is the only one who can address this problem, and he apparently has not done much about that in the past year. Hopefully, he will wake up one of these days and go to work changing his academic problems so he will be able to show that he is an extremely talented basketball player.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks women’s softball team will hold open tryouts Saturday, August 8, for current high school juniors and seniors and students now enrolled at Lamar State or planning to attend the college in the 2009 fall semester. The tryouts will take place from 9-11 a.m. at Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the Lamar State campus. Seahawks head coach Vance Edwards said this tryout is for walk-on players. He especially is looking for pitchers and catchers for next year’s team. Lamar State competes in Region XIV, one of the toughest Division I conferences in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Interested players are asked to download a Tryout Registration form from the Softball page of the college website (www.lamarpa.edu), fill out the form and then follow the instructions for returning it to the college. Players also are asked to fill out and submit the on-line Prospective Student/Athlete form on the Athletics page of the college website. For information, call Coach Edwards at 984-6293, or send e-mail to: [email protected].

Oops, you are correct. Wrong ball, but you got my meaning.

You never know. When Lamar State added men's basketball and women's softball in 2004, Coach Gilligan told me he was disappointed that the college didn't add baseball because he had more hot prospects than he had available scholarships. I think he would love to have a "farm" team right down the road. I personally wouldn't discount the talent of 3A and below athletes. The best softball player who has played at Lamar State in the first five seasons came from a 3A high school. The difference is the level of competition they faced during their high school years, especially the pitching.

Two recent high school graduates and summer ball teammates have signed letters of intent to play softball at Lamar State College-Port Arthur during the 2009-10 academic year. Christin “Paige†Blucher, who attended Baytown Christian Academy as a senior and previously was at Lee High School in Baytown, pitched for the East Side Elite select team. Kirstyn Klugman, an outfielder, is a graduate of Dayton High School and also played with the East Side Elite. Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards said, “Paige will be an excellent addition to our pitching staff, and she is a left-hander, which gives us more variety. Kirstyn really impressed us during the recent tryouts. She is a very speedy outfielder and an excellent contact hitter.†Edwards also announced that two more starters from Lamar State’s 2009 team have re-signed – second baseman Ashley Cocoran from Port Neches-Groves and first baseman Chelsea Brown from Kirbyville. Edwards previously signed three freshmen – pitcher Emalee Kennon from Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont, catcher Samantha Lunceford from Port Neches-Groves High School and utility player Brittney Hall from Kountze High School. Also signed are four other starters from the 2009 team – centerfielder Hannah Godina, left fielder Sami Jo Williams, third baseman Lauren Angelle and her twin sister, utility player Jenna Angelle, who suffered a broken finger in March and was red-shirted for the season. Edwards will conduct a try-out day for walk-on players in August. The date of the tryout will be announced soon.

Two recent high school graduates and summer ball teammates have signed letters of intent to play softball at Lamar State College-Port Arthur during the 2009-10 academic year. Christin “Paige†Blucher, who attended Baytown Christian Academy as a senior and previously was at Lee High School in Baytown, pitched for the East Side Elite select team. Kirstyn Klugman, an outfielder, is a graduate of Dayton High School and also played with the East Side Elite. Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards said, “Paige will be an excellent addition to our pitching staff, and she is a left-hander, which gives us more variety. Kirstyn really impressed us during the recent tryouts. She is a very speedy outfielder and an excellent contact hitter.†Edwards also announced that two more starters from Lamar State’s 2009 team have re-signed – second baseman Ashley Cocoran from Port Neches-Groves and first baseman Chelsea Brown from Kirbyville. Edwards previously signed three freshmen – pitcher Emalee Kennon from Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont, catcher Samantha Lunceford from Port Neches-Groves High School and utility player Brittney Hall from Kountze High School. Also signed are four other starters from the 2009 team – centerfielder Hannah Godina, left fielder Sami Jo Williams, third baseman Lauren Angelle and her twin sister, utility player Jenna Angelle, who suffered a broken finger in March and was red-shirted for the season. Edwards will conduct a try-out day for walk-on players in August. The date of the tryout will be announced soon.

Baseball would probably be a consideration if the college decides to add another men's sport and another women's sport in the future. But my impression is that it would be in the distant future, not something that is likely to materialize in the next couple of years. The first priority right now is getting the men's basketball and women's softball programs established in order to create both student body and public interest in Lamar State sports, which might lead to adding more sports at the college.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks softball program will host a softball skills camp for players ages 8-12 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, June 22-25, at Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the LSC-PA campus. “The players will have fun while they improve their fundamental softball skills,†said Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards, who will lead the camp. “They will receive individual instruction in proper form for fielding ground balls and fly balls and on throwing from all positions on the field. We also will work on hitting and bunting.†There is a limit of 50 players for this camp. Campers should bring their own softball mitt and softball cleats or athletic shoes. The college will provide water. The camp fee is $25 per player. Early registration is appreciated, but walk-ons can register beginning 30 minutes before the camp, Edwards said. To pre-register or for more information call Coach Edwards at 984-6293 or send e-mail to: [email protected].

Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks softball program will host a softball skills camp for players ages 8-12 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, June 22-25, at Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the LSC-PA campus. “The players will have fun while they improve their fundamental softball skills,†said Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards, who will lead the camp. “They will receive individual instruction in proper form for fielding ground balls and fly balls and on throwing from all positions on the field. We also will work on hitting and bunting.†There is a limit of 50 players for this camp. Campers should bring their own softball mitt and softball cleats or athletic shoes. The college will provide water. The camp fee is $25 per player. Early registration is appreciated, but walk-ons can register beginning 30 minutes before the camp, Edwards said. To pre-register or for more information call Coach Edwards at 984-6293 or send e-mail to: [email protected].

Three recent area high school graduates have signed letters of intent to play softball at Lamar State College-Port Arthur during the 2009-10 academic year. Emalee Kennon was a first team All-District 22-4A pitcher for Vidor High School in her sophomore and junior years. She transferred to Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont for her senior year and earned first-team all-district and second team all-state honors as she led her team to the state semi-finals. Samantha Lunceford, a catcher from Port Neches-Groves High School, also plays volleyball and basketball. On the softball diamond, she was a second-team All-District 24-4A pick as a sophomore and earned a first-team all-district nod as a junior. Utility player Brittney Hall was a three-year all-district selection at Kountze High School. Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards said he has a solid group of sophomores returning from the 2009 Seahawks team. So, his recruiting goals are to fill some key positions and get more depth in pitching and catching. "Emalee is an outstanding pitcher and has the ability to play several other positions," Edwards said. "Samantha will help solidify our catching. She has a strong arm and the ability to call pitches. Brittney has excellent speed and also can play several positions. Each of these ladies will help to make our team stronger." Edwards also announced the signing of four starters from his 2009 Seahawks team - centerfielder Hannah Godina, left fielder Sami Jo Williams, third baseman Lauren Angelle and her twin sister, utility player Jenna Angelle, who suffered a broken finger early in early March and was red-shirted for the season. Edwards said he plans to sign at least two more returning players in addition to several new recruits in the coming weeks.

The National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association recently selected Lamar State College-Port Arthur sophomore shortstop Christina Jaques to its Division I junior college All-Midwest Region second team. Jaques, a kinesiology major from Bridge City, was selected for the NCFA’s All-Midwest first team and the All-American third team after the 2008 season, when she led Region XIV in hitting and triples to earn a berth on the all-conference first team. As a freshman, Jaques also set nine Lamar State team records and drew interest from several four-year schools, but she decided to re-sign with the Seahawks for her sophomore year. In 2009, Jaques again led Region XIV in triples and was fifth in hitting with a .466 batting average. She ended her Seahawks career ranked No. 27 in the nation in hitting during the regular season. The NFCA will announce its 2009 All-American list next month. Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards said, “Christina is an exceptional athlete and a very hardworking young lady. We are very proud of her. She is very deserving of this honor.†Jaques, a three-sport athlete at Bridge City High School, will continue her collegiate sports career at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS, which gave her a scholarship to play softball and volleyball for the Blazers, who compete in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The tryouts are NEXT Saturday -- May 16. Coach Edwards is looking for pitchers and at least one catcher. Other than than, he's looking for athletes who are speedy and willing to work hard in practice.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur will introduce its new men’s basketball head coach Tuesday, May 12, during a 2 p.m. press conference in the Carl Parker Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive on the LSC-PA campus. The new coach replaces Jerre Cole, who took the position in 2008 and returned to Kansas after less than one year on the job. Cole replaced Don Bryson, who came out of retirement in 2004 to start the Lamar State basketball program and lead it for four years. Lamar State competed as an independent for two years, followed by two years in the Division III (non-scholarship) Metro Athletic Conference. The Seahawks joined the Division I (full scholarship) Region XIV conference in 2008. Region XIV is acknowledged to be one of the toughest junior college conferences in the nation.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur will introduce its new men’s basketball head coach Tuesday, May 12, during a 2 p.m. press conference in the Carl Parker Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive on the LSC-PA campus. The new coach replaces Jerre Cole, who took the position in 2008 and returned to Kansas after less than one year on the job. Cole replaced Don Bryson, who came out of retirement in 2004 to start the Lamar State basketball program and lead it for four years. Lamar State competed as an independent for two years, followed by two years in the Division III (non-scholarship) Metro Athletic Conference. The Seahawks joined the Division I (full scholarship) Region XIV conference in 2008. Region XIV is acknowledged to be one of the toughest junior college conferences in the nation.

The National Junior College Athletic Association named two members of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur women’s softball team to its 2009 Academic All-American list. Sophomore pitcher Alison Heidbreder, a 2007 graduate of Waltrip High School in Houston, and sophomore outfielder Jessica Tapp, a 2007 graduate of Anahuac High School, recently completed their second year with the Seahawks. To qualify for Academic All-American status, a student/athlete must complete one season of competition and earn 45 credit hours over three full semesters with a minimum grade point average of 3.6. “We are very proud of Alison and Jessica,†said Lamar State head softball coach Vance Edwards. “They are perfect examples of student/athletes who are able to focus their efforts to excel on the field and in the classroom.†Heidbreder, an Academic Studies major, will receive her associate degree Friday during Lamar State’s spring commencement. She will continue her education in the fall at Lamar University, studying photography and graphic arts. Tapp, who also majored in Academic Studies, will begin classes this fall at the University of Texas in Austin, where she intends to pursue a degree in the medical field.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks women’s softball team will hold open tryouts Saturday, May 16, for current high school juniors and seniors and students now enrolled at Lamar State or planning to attend the college in the 2009 fall semester. The tryouts will take place at Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the Lamar State campus. Position players will work out from 9 a.m. to noon; pitchers and catchers from 1 to 3 p.m. Seahawks head coach Vance Edwards said the college has athletic scholarships available for the 2009-10 season. He especially is looking for pitchers and catchers for next year’s team. “We already signed Emalee Kennon, an excellent pitcher from Kelly High School in Beaumont. Now, we need two or three more to make our mound staff solid,†Edwards said. “Heather Pinder did an excellent job behind the plate this year, but she was the only catcher on the roster.†Lamar State competes in Region XIV, a Division I conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Interested players are asked to download a registration form from the Softball page of the college website (www.lamarpa.edu), fill out the form and then follow the instructions for returning the form to the college. Prospective players must show proof that they had a physical during the past year. For information, call Coach Edwards at 984-6293, or send e-mail to: [email protected].

Here are the results of Saturday's doubleheader: 1st game: Blinn 9, Lamar State 0 2nd game: Blinn 13, Lamar State 2

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur softball team wraps up the 2009 season Saturday and Sunday with the final two conference doubleheaders of a marathon week that has the Seahawks playing five straight days. Heavy rain across Texas this past weekend washed out all scheduled Region XIV games, including Lamar State’s doubleheaders against Northeast Texas Community College and Alvin Community College. The Seahawks, 9-33 overall and 7-19 in conference action, split a Wednesday home doubleheader with San Jacinto College to push the Coyotes out of first place in Region XIV’s South Zone. Lamar State made up the Alvin games Thursday with a split to knock the Dolphins out of the conference tournament. The Seahawks are at Galveston College today and return to Martin Field at noon Saturday to face Blinn Community College, the No. 7 team in the nation. Saturday’s games will be the final home appearances of four Lamar State sophomores – shortstop Christina Jaques from Bridge City, pitcher Alison Heidbreder from Houston and outfielders Jerrica Stephenson from Vidor and Jessica Tapp from Anahuac. Lamar State closes the season Sunday in Mt. Pleasant with the rescheduled doubleheader against Northeast Texas Community College.

Heavy rain across Texas this past weekend washed out all scheduled softball games in Region XIV, including Lamar State College-Port Arthur’s Saturday doubleheader at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, and a Sunday home doubleheader against Alvin Community College. As a result, Lamar State will play doubleheaders on five straight days this week, beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday at home on Martin Field against San Jacinto College, the current leader in the South Zone of Region XIV. The Seahawks also will be home at 1 p.m. Thursday to make up the Alvin games, followed by a trip to Galveston College on Friday, a home doubleheader on Saturday against Blinn College and a final road trip to NE Texas on Sunday. Lamar State is 7-31 overall and 5-17 in conference action. The Seahawks currently are 10th in the 12-team conference. The top six teams qualify for the post-season tournament, which begins April 30 at Navarro College in Corsicana. San Jacinto (36-13, 17-5) is tied with Blinn College for second in the conference behind Paris Junior College, which leads the Eastern Zone going into the final week of the regular season. Alvin (33-18, 14-10) is sixth. The Dophins edged Lamar State, 6-4 and 4-3, in their first meeting of the season March 18, with both games going into extra innings.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur softball team will be home Sunday at Martin Field for a 1 p.m. Region XIV doubleheader against Alvin Community College. The Seahawks were scheduled to play Saturday at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, but those games were rescheduled to April 26 because of expected bad weather. Lamar State is 7-31 overall and 5-17 in Region XIV action after dropping both games of a Wednesday home conference doubleheader with Galveston College. Alvin (34-19, 15-11) currently is sixth in the 12-team conference as the season winds down. The top six teams qualify for the post-season tournament, which begins April 30 at Navarro College in Coriscana. The Dolphins split their last three conference doubleheaders. Alvin edged Lamar State, 6-4 and 4-3, in their first meeting of the season March 18, with both games going into extra innings.