Lamar Lady Cardinals softball


The Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team competes in the Southland Conference. The Lady Cardinals are currently led by head coach Amy Hooks. The team played its home games at the off–campus Ford Park for the first two seasons following the program restart in 2013. The Lady Cardinals began playing home games at the Lamar Softball Complex located on the university's campus starting with the 2015 season.
WWW lamarcardinals.com/index....

History

AIAW era

LU first sponsored softball from 1971 through 1977 competing in the AIAW. Lamar finished second in the 1972 AIAW Texas state tournament. In addition to other head coaching duties, Pat Park was the Lady Cardinals head coach for the initial seasons. Coach Park also served as women's head coach for basketball, tennis, and golf while she was at Lamar.
The off-campus Beaumont Athletic Complex served as the Lady Cardinals home during the 1971 to 1977 period.

NCAA Division I era

In 1983 Lamar added softball as an NCAA Division I sport and competed in the Southland conference. Tryouts for the team were held on October 16, 1982. The sport was dropped in 1987 when Lamar left the Southland Conference. Patty Calvert was head coach during the 1982–1987 period.
On April 22, 2011, Athletic Director Larry Tidwell announced plans to reinstate college softball as an NCAA Division I sport at Lamar University. On August 1, 2011, former Morehead State head coach Holly Bruder was announced as the finalist to fill the head coaching position at Lamar after over 20 years with no program at the university. The Lady Cardinals finished fifth in the Southland Conference in their first season of competition following the restart of the program. The team also earned a berth in the Southland Conference softball tournament. Holly Bruder was removed as head coach on May 11, 2018. On June 20, 2018, Amy Hooks was named as head coach for the team.
Off–campus Ford Park was the home field for the first two seasons after the program was restarted. A new on–campus stadium was constructed in 2014–15. On October 17, 2014, a ground breaking ceremony for the new Lamar Softball Complex was held. The first game at the partially completed on–campus stadium was played on March 6, 2015, against the Houston Baptist Huskies. The stadium was completed following the 2015 season.

NCAA Year–by–year results

Source:

Yearly attendance

Below is the Lady Cardinals' home attendance since the 2012–13 restart of the program.
*Note: Attendance restricted to 119 fans due to COVID19 precautions.

**Note: Games after March 10, 2020, cancelled due to COVID19 precautions.

*** Note: Temporary seating.

As of the 2023–24 season.

Post season appearances

National Invitational Softball Championship

The Lady Cardinals have participated in one national tournament, the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship which started in 2017. The team compiled a 6–3 record in that tournament losing to Liberty in the championship game.
20176–3.667Beaumont, TX Regional; Beat Louisiana–Monroe, Beat Abilene Christian, Lost to Louisiana–Monroe, Beat Louisiana–Monroe
Lynchburg, VA Championship; Beat Cal Poly, Beat Illinois State, Beat Kennesaw State, Lost to Liberty, Lost to Liberty in the championship game.
TOTALS6–3.6671 National Invitational Softball Championship appearance

Conference Tournaments

'Sources:'''''

Awards and honors

'Sources:'''''

Southland Conference

All Conference First Team

  • Donna Dugas 1985, 87
  • Teresa Fuxa 1986
  • Tina Schulz 2014
  • Bryn Baca 2016, '17
  • Brittany Rodriguez 2016, '17
  • Kendall Talley 2018
  • Jade Lewis 2019

Hitter of the Year

  • Donna Dugas 1986

Newcomer of the Year

  • Laura Hall 1985
  • Ciara Luna 2016
  • Jade Lewis 2019
  • Shenita Tucker 2024

Seasons

2025 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2025 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2025 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex as a member of the Southland Conference led by head coach Amy Hooks in her seventh-year at Lamar. The team compiled a 29–27 overall record and a 15–12 record in conference play for a fifth-place finish. Qualifying as the fifth seeded team in the SLC conference tournament, the Lady Cardinals were 1–2 in tournament play defeating East Texas A&M and losing twice to Incarnate Word.

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 30, 2025. Lamar was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 95 votes.
Coaches poll--
1Southeastern Louisiana152
2McNeese151
3Incarnate Word130
4Nicholls106
5Lamar95
6Texas A&M–Corpus Christi70
7Houston Christian68
8Stephen F. Austin62
9Northwestern State48
9East Texas A&M20

Preseason All-Southland team

Aubrey Brown and Emma Wardlaw were named to the conference preseason first team. Jane Sepulveda and Makenzie Wright were named as conference preseason second team members.
First Team
  • Monee Montilla
  • Ryleigh Mata*
  • Chloe Magee
  • Rylie Bouvier*
  • Riley Rutherford
  • Victoria Altamirano*
  • Aubrey Brown
  • Reagan Heflin*
  • Alexis Dibbley*
  • Jillian Gutierrez*
  • Ryann Schexnayder
  • Emma Wardlaw
''*-2024 Southland All-Conference Selection''
Second Team
  • Maddie Watson
  • Jayne Sepulveda
  • Baylee Lemons*
  • Maria Detillier
  • Makenzie Wright
  • Haylie Savage*
  • Karlie Barba
  • Samantha Mundine
  • AB Garcia
  • Shenita Tucker
  • Averi Paden
  • Molly Yoo
''*-2024 Southland All-Conference Selection''

Schedule and results

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Conference awards and honors
''Post-season All-Southland Conference Teams''
Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, Incarnate Word
Hitter of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, Incarnate Word
Pitcher of the Year: Maddie Taylor, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Kassidy Chance, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Macie LaRue, Southeastern Louisiana
Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese
''First Team''
  • Victoria Altamirano
  • Claire Sisco
  • Chloe Magee
  • Maria Detillier
  • Sarah Allen
  • Kassidy Chance Veronica Harrison
  • Shenita Tucker
  • Samantha Mundine
  • AB Garcia
  • Macie LaRue
  • Maddie Taylor
    ''Second Team''
  • Tatum Wright
  • Ellie Vance
  • Reese Reyna
  • Haylie Savage
  • Adelynn Bacerra
  • Molly VandenBout
  • Kyi'Marri Ester
  • Reagan Heflin
  • Maddie Cason
  • Nyjah Fontenot
  • Larissa Jacquez
  • Britney Lewinski
    ''All Defensive''
    Cala Wilson
  • Claire Sisco
  • Reese Reyna Trinity Brandon
  • Jaisy Caceres
  • Reagan Heflin
  • Sophia Livers
  • Maddy Bailey
  • Maddie Taylor
    Weekly awards

2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex as a member of the Southland Conference and were led by head coach Amy Hooks in her sixth-year at Lamar. The team compiled a 26–25 overall record and a 12–12 record in conference play for a fifth place finish. As the fifth seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Lady Cardinals were defeated in extra innings by fourth seeded Incarnate Word 4–5. Their season ended with another extra inning defeat versus third seeded Nicholls 4–5.

Preseason

Early signing
On August 2, 2023, Lamar announced that five new players would join the team for the 2024 season.
Trinity BrandonUtilityLas Vegas, NevadaArbor View HS / San Diego State
Rose GonzalezInfielderDallas, TexasSouth Grand Prairie HS / McLennan Community College
Sabrina Jolinhttps://duckduckgo.com/Pitcher Anchorage, AlaskaSouth Anchorage HS / UNLV
Jane SepuveldaInfielderMonterey Park, CaliforniaSt. Paul High School / Southern Utah
Shenita TuckerOutfieldRichmond, TexasLamar Consolidated HS / Florida SouthWestern
National signing day
On November 10, 2023, national signing day, Lamar announced that seven additional new players would join the team for the 2024 season.
Ava BlakelyOutfielder/InfielderWesley Chapel, FloridaWesley Chapel HS
Kaylee CuevasPitcher/UtilityTeague, TexasTeague HS
Neveah HallmarkOutfielder/UtilityPasadena, TexasPasadena HS
Cimara-lei WesslingCatcher/UtilityConverse, TexasVeterans Memorial HS
Ava SanchezCatcher/OutfielderSan Antonio, TexasBrennan HS0
Cala WilsonPitcher/InfielderRuston, LouisianaRuston HS
Roxy ThompsonInfielder/OutfielderDallas, Te= Roster =
xas		Rockwall HS
Sicily WindhamShort-stopHuntington Beach, CaliforniaCrean Lutheran HS
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Lamar was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference with 78 votes.
Coaches poll--
1McNeese State128
2Southeastern Louisiana114
3Nicholls97
4Lamar78
5Texas A&M–Corpus Christi72
6Northwestern State63
7Houston Christian49
8Incarnate Word30
9Texas A&M–Commerce17
Preseason All-Southland team
Brooke Davis and Cameron Niedenthal were named to the conference preseason second team.
First Team
  • Lexi Johnson
  • Erin Kraus https://duckduckgo.com/
  • Haylie Savage HCU, JR, 3rd Base)
  • Reese Reyna
  • Bailey Krolczyk
  • Chloe Gomez
  • Audrey Greely
  • Alexa Poche
  • AB Garcia
  • Erin Ardoin
  • Ashley Vallejo
  • Primrose Aholelei
    Second Team
  • Crislyne Mareno
  • Mariana Torres
  • Rylie Bouvier
  • Brooke Davis
  • Ashlyn Walker
  • Sydney Hoyt
  • Cameron Niedenthal
  • Cam Goodman
  • Ka'Lyn Watson
  • Laney Roos
  • Maggie Darr
  • Shaelyn Sanders

Schedule and results

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Conference awards and honors

Post-season All-Southland Conference Teams
Shenita Tucker was named Newcomer of the Year. No Lady Cardinals were named to either the first or second teams.
Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Hitter of the Year: Ka'Lyn Watson, Southeastern
Pitcher of the Year: Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Alexis Dibbley, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shenita Tucker, Lamar
Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese
First Team
  • Corine Poncho
  • Mariana Torres
  • Chloe Magee
  • Maddison Guillen
  • Bailey Krolczyk
  • Victoria Altamirano
  • Audrey Greely
  • Reagan Heflin
  • Ka'Lyn Watson
  • Alexis Dibbley
  • Cera Blanchard
  • Shaelyn Sanders
    Second Team
  • Lexi Johnson
  • Ryleigh Mata
  • Baylee Lemons
  • Rylie Bouvier
  • Bella Perez
  • Haylie Savage
  • Crislyne Moreno
  • Jillian Guiterrez
  • Abby Andersen
  • Cam Goodman
  • Primrose Aholelei
  • Ellie DuBois

2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and were led by fifth-year head coach Amy Hooks. The 2023 season marked Lamar's return to the Southland Conference following one season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Preseason

Early signing
On September 2, 2022, Lamar announced that seven new players would join the team for the 2023 season.
Mikaila KenneyOutfielderHighland Village, TexasMarcus HS / Marshall
Julia KramerInfielderPrairieville, LouisianaSt. Amant HS / Nicholls
Emilee LaRueCatcherSan Antonio, TexasBlanco HS
Rien MillikenInfielderVictoria, British Columbia CanadaLambrick Park Secondary School / Utah Valley
Karyana MitchellPitcherPalm Bay, FloridaViera HS / UNC Charlotte
Cameron NiedenthalInfielder/PitcherPort Neches, TexasPort Neches–Groves HS /Lamar State College–Port Arthur
National signing day
On November 10, 2022, National signing day, Lamar announced that ten additional new players would join the team for the 2023 season.
Raigan Alexis BrannonCatcher/InfielderMansfield, TexasLake Ridge HS
Aubrey BrownInfielder/UtilityWylie, TexasWylie HS
Sam FloresInfielderHumble, TexasSummer Creek HS
Madison GuidryPitcherLa Porte, TexasLa Porte HS
Veronica "Roni" HarrisonInfielderAlvin, TexasAlvin HS
Lainie SchaeferInfielder/OutfielderHouston, TexasFriendswood HS
Roxy ThompsonInfielder/OutfielderDallas, TexasRockwall HS
Makayla VallePitcher/UtilityAurora, ColoradoGrandview HS
Emma WardlawPitcherComfort, TexasComfort HS
Makenzie WrightPitcherPearland, TexasPearland HS
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Lamar was picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference with 49 votes.
Coaches poll--
1McNeese State128
2Southeastern Louisiana113
3Northwestern State91
4Texas A&M–Corpus Christi85
5Houston Christian58
6Lamar49
7Texas A&M–Commerce47
8Incarnate Word45
9Nicholls32
Preseason All-Southland team
No Lady Cardinals were named to conference preseason teams.
First Team
  • Crislyne Moreno
  • Caleigh Cross
  • Jil Poullard
  • Maddie Watson
  • Bailey Krolczyk
  • Kaylee Lopez
  • Audrey Greely
  • Laney Roos
  • Alayis Seneca
  • Cam Goodman
  • Ashley Vallejo
  • Bronte Rhoden
    Second Team
  • Sydney Hoyt
  • Madison Rayner
  • Haylie Savage
  • Ryleigh Mata
  • Tristin Court
  • Melise Gossen
  • Chloe Gomez
  • Alexa Poche
  • Makenzie Chaffin
  • Bailie Ragsdale
  • Lyndie Swanson
  • Siarah Galvan

Schedule and results

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

2022 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2022 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2022 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and were led by fourth-year head coach Amy Hooks. The 2022 season marked Lamar's move from the Southland Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. Lamar returned to the Southland conference after one season in the WAC.

Preseason

Western Athletic Conference Coaches Poll
The Western Athletic Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 3, 2022. Lamar was picked to finish sixth in the Western Athletic Conference Southwest Division with 4 votes.
2022 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
West Division
Seattle U – 25
NM State – 20
Grand Canyon – 16
Dixie State – 13
California Baptist – 9
Utah Valley – 7
Southwest Division
Stephen F. Austin – 16
Sam Houston – 13
Abilene Christian – 9
Tarleton – 8
Lamar – 4
– First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All-WAC team
No Lady Cardinals were named to conference preseason teams.

Roster

WAC Digital Network

Schedule and results

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

2021 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2021 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and were led by third-year head coach Amy Hooks. They were members of the Southland Conference. Home game attendance for the 2021 season was limited to 119 per game due to COVID19 precautions.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Lamar was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 86 votes.
Coaches poll--
1Stephen F. Austin235
2McNeese State217
3Southeastern Louisiana183
4Sam Houston State172
5Central Arkansas162
6Northwestern State156
7Nicholls131
8Lamar86
9Abilene Christian82
10Houston Baptist81
11Texas A&M–Corpus Christi47
12Incarnate Word32
Preseason All-Southland team
''No player from Lamar was chosen to the All-Southland Team''
National Softball Signing Day
Cassie BlevinsInfielderSpring Branch, TexasSmithson Valley HS
Haila LintonPitcherRio Vista, TexasRio Vista HS
Piper HankinsOutfielderEuless, TexasTrinity HS
Sydney NortonInfielderSchertz, TexasSamuel Clemens HS
Kalyn XayasengInfielderKirbyville, TexasKirbyville HS
Maya MongelliInfielderWolfforth, TexasFrenship HS

Schedule and results

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

2020 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2020 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University in the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and are members of the Southland Conference. The team was coached by Amy Hooks in her second season at Lamar. On March 12, the Southland Conference announced a suspension of Spring sports through March 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference announced that all remaining Spring 2020 sports contests were cancelled on March 14.
The Lady Cardinals played 20 games in the shortened season with an overall record of 8–12, and a 0–3 record in conference play.

Previous season

In 2019, the Lady Cardinals finished the season 7th in the Southland with a record of 23–34, 14–13 in conference play. They lost to Northwestern State in the first round of the 2019 Southland Conference softball tournament.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors Poll was released on January 30, 2020. Lamar was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 110 votes.
Coaches and Sports Information Directors poll--
1Stephen F. Austin217
2Sam Houston State210
3McNeese202
4Nicholls186
5Southeastern Louisiana177
6Northwestern State152
7Central Arkansas122
8Lamar110
9Abilene Christian61
10Houston Baptist56
11Texas A&M–Corpus Christi52
12Incarnate Word39
Preseason All-Southland Conference team
The preseason all-conference team is based on votes by the conference head coaches. Players who were named to the previous season's first and second teams are automatically named to the preseason team for their respective positions.
  • Kaylyn Shepherd*
  • Cayla Jones*
  • Cylla Hill*
  • Tiffany Thompson*
  • Ella Manzer*
  • Jade Lewis*
  • Megan McDonald*
  • Madisen Blackford*
  • Kayla Crutchmer*
  • Kassidy Wilbur*
  • Alley McDonald*
  • Alexsandra Flores*
  • E.C. Delafield*
  • 2019 All-Conference Designation

2019 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2019 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University in the 2019 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and are members of the Southland Conference. The team was coached by Amy Hooks in her first season at Lamar. The Lady Cardinals finished the season 7th in the Southland with a record of 23–34, 14–13 in conference play. They lost to Northwestern State in the single elimination opening round of the 2019 Southland Conference softball tournament.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors Poll was released on January 30, 2019. Lamar was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference with 80 votes.
Coaches and Sports Information Directors poll--
1Nicholls238
2McNeese224
3Central Arkansas164
4Southeastern Louisiana163
5Stephen F. Austin158
6Northwestern State156
7Sam Houston State145
8Abilene Christian119
9Lamar80
10Incarnate Word61
11Texas A&M–Corpus Christi40
12Houston Baptist36
Preseason All-Southland Conference team
The preseason all-conference team is based on votes by the conference head coaches. Players who were named to the previous season's first and second teams are automatically named to the preseason team for their respective positions.
First team
  • Kaylyn Shepherd*
  • Cayla Jones*
  • Jewel Lara*
  • Amanda Gianelloni
  • Bailey White*
  • Alexandria Saldivar*
  • Justyce McClain*
  • Kasey Frederick*
  • Kelsey Miller*
  • Megan Landry*
  • Lindsey McLeod*
  • Alexsandra Flores*
  • Kali Clement*
  • 2018 All-Conference Designation
Second team
  • Sam Dares
  • Kelly Meeuwsen*
  • Madison Watson
  • Tiffany Thompson*
  • Heidi Jaquez
  • Taylor Davis*
  • Donelle Johnson*
  • Ali McCoy*
  • Morgan Felts*
  • Alexsandra Flores
  • Alexis LaBure*
  • Kaitlyn St. Clair*
  • 2018 All-Conference Designation

1984 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 1984 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 1984 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at the off–campus Beaumont Athletic Complex in Beaumont, Texas as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals were led by head coach Patty Calvert in her second-year at Lamar. The Lady Cardinals finished the season, their second after reinstating the sport in 1983, with an overall record of 13–43 and a 1–7 record in conference play.