First Seahawk softball player returns to Lamar State as assistant coach

[LamarStatesports]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur women’s softball program has come a long way since the first team hit the field in the fall of 2004.

Nearly 50 women have worn the Columbia blue and Navy blue colors of the Seahawks since then.

This spring marks a special milestone for the program as Erin Lovelady, the very first Seahawk and the first to win all-conference honors, returns as an assistant coach.

A four-year starter at Nederland High School, Lovelady was the 2003 District 20-4A offensive and defensive Player of the Year. She played at Hill College in Big Spring, Tx., during the 2003 fall semester, but returned home and enrolled at Lamar State College-PA in the spring of 2004.

Lovelady heard about the Lamar State’s new softball program that spring.

“Velma Wappler, who later became a Seahawks assistant coach, told me the college was starting a softball team and I should consider playing for them,†Lovelady said. “A couple of days later, I went to see Coach (Vance) Edwards, signed up and started looking for other players for the first-year team.â€

Lovelady, the starting catcher for the Seahawks’ first two years, recorded the new team’s first hit and scored the first run in an opening day 6-6 tie with Mississippi Valley State University.

Lovelady earned a place on the All-Region XIV second team in 2006 after hitting .333 and finishing second in on-base percentage and fifth in triples.

That same season, she set Seahawk team records for triples and RBIs that stood until the 2008 season.

Lovelady earned an associate degree in kinesiology at Lamar State and went on to Lamar University, where she graduated this past May with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

During the 2008 fall semester, Lovelady coached the volleyball team at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont.

Head coach Edwards said Lovelady will be an asset to the softball program.

“Erin was a contributor on offense and defense both years she played here. Her ability to work with the catchers and pitchers really will help us improve,†Edwards said.

Lovelady is excited to be back at Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

“My goal after I graduated here was to get my bachelors degree and then get involved in coaching with a college program. It was a dream of mine to coach for the Seahawks because I played here,†Lovelady said.

The Seahawks kick off their 2009 season with a February 5 home doubleheader against Temple College.