Lamar Baseball signs Three Local Players to Start Early Signing Period

[Guest abovetherim]

The Cardinals expect to sign a few more players during the early signing period.

Nov. 15, 2007

BEAUMONT - Continuing its trend of signing top local talent, Kevin Angelle, V.J. Bunner and Eric Harrington signed national letters-of-intent to continue their education and play baseball for the Cardinals, announced Lamar University coach Jim Gilligan.

Angelle is a 6-3, 200-pound left-handed pitcher from San Jacinto Junior College. He posted a 5-1 record with a 2.80 earned run average last season for the Gators. He helped San Jacinto advance to the JUCO World Series and was invited to participate in the Texas JUCO All-Star game.

A prep standout at Bridge City High School, Angelle posted a combined 36-3 record with a 1.20 ERA and 425 strikeouts during three years of varsity play for the Cardinals. He helped Bridge City advance to the Class 3A state tournament in 2006.

Angelle was an all-state pitcher in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and was also named all-state at first base in 2006. He was named the district's most valuable player in 2005 and 2006. He was the Super Gold team MVP in 2006 and the Orange County baseball player of the year in 2005 and 2006. Angelle was drafted in the 13th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Texas Rangers following his senior year of high school.

"We're losing a lot of pitching from this year's team, so that was definitely an area we targeted in recruiting and Kevin was the first player on our list to sign," said Gilligan. "We recruited him hard out of high school, so we are excited to get him the second time around. I expect him to come in and be a weekend guy for us."

Bunner is a 5-10, 175-pound shortstop from Vidor High School. He hit .375 with 34 hits, six doubles and 24 runs batted in last season as a junior. He was named first-team all-district at shortstop. He was named second-team all-district as a sophomore and was the district newcomer of the year as a freshman.

"We were looking for a middle infielder and V.J. has the best hands and glove around," commented Gilligan. "He will help solidify us up the middle defensively with the ability to play either shortstop or second base. He has a chance to develop into a better hitter."   

Harrington, a 5-10, 175-pound right-handed pitcher from Port Neches-Groves HS, is following his older brother's footsteps. Allen Harrington was also a standout pitcher at PNG before coming to Lamar and becoming an all-Southland Conference hurler.

On the mound, Harrington posted a 10-2 record with a 2.52 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 71.3 innings pitched as a junior last season. He also hit .340 while playing center field. He was named first-team all-district and the Port Arthur News player of the year.

As a sophomore, he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.33 ERA and hit .300 at the plate. He was named district newcomer of the year.

"Like his brother (Allen), Eric is a great athlete and a fierce competitor," said Gilligan. "He is a legitimate two-way player as both a pitcher and center fielder. He's a great kid. He and his family have been part of the program for the past three years, so it's exciting to get a kid that's been watching our program closely."

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111507aab.html

[NewCardinal]

These aren't just local players from SE Texas. These guys are studs!

[KFDM COOP]

Yes sir!!

[LamarJunior]

Great start to the fall class.