Lamar State Seahawks set for weekend tourney in Beaumont

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2007

Lamar State Seahawks set for weekend tourney in Beaumont

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks will play five

high-school-age all-star teams in this weekend's Lone Star Classic

Invitational Softball Tournament at the Beaumont Athletic Complex on College

Street.

The Seahawks will play at 9:35 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, and at 9:35 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. Sunday, all on the Complex 4 field.

Lamar State kicked off its fourth year of intercollegiate softball

this past weekend at the Bossier Parish Community College Tournament in

Bossier City, La.

The Seahawks, who enter their second season in the highly

competitive Region XIV conference next spring, went 1-4-1 in the tourney,

shutting out Louisiana State University-Eunice 10-0 and tying 3-3 with the

host Bossier Parish Lady Cavaliers.

Lamar State lost twice to Bossier Parish (8-13, 1-7) and dropped

single games to Grambling State University (2-6) and Paris Junior College

(0-11)

Lamar State head coach Vance Edwards has a much-improved team this

year, including four veterans and seven freshmen who earned all-district

honors in high school, including pitcher/third baseman Alison Heidbreder

from Houston Waltrip and utility player Casey Nance from Evadale, who were

the MVPs of their respective districts, and shortstop/catcher Christina

Jaques from Bridge City, the District 21-3A offensive player of the year.

Jaques gave the team a thrill Saturday, when she blasted a grand

slam home run against Bossier Parish. She also collected two stolen bases

and initiated a triple play after catching a sharp line drive.

"We had a chance to play two of our Region XIV rivals last week, and

that gave everyone an idea of the level of competition we'll face next

spring in conference play," Edwards said. "The team has been working hard in

practice. This weekend, we'll see some Select Gold teams and have some live

action practice."

Edwards was impressed with the overall performance of his team last

week.

"All of the pitchers had good outings. We didn't allow any blowout

innings, just a run here and a run there. Alison Heidbreder was impressive

in her win over LSU-Eunice," Edwards said.

Four Seahawk players hit over .400 for the weekend, led by Jaques

with .667, Brooke Teal (.444) and Shana Kelly and Kristen Botello (.400).

Lamar State will travel to the University of Texas-Dallas Fall

Tournament on September 29, and the University of Houston Fall Tournament on

October 20.

The Seahawks' only fall home date will be an October 12 doubleheader

against LSU-Eunice, beginning at 2 p.m. on Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore

Drive on the Lamar State campus.

Lamar State begins its spring schedule Feb. 7, with a doubleheader

against the Temple College, which was ranked No. 14 in the nation at the end

2007 spring campaign.