KFDM COOP

Hope they survive!

Twenty-One Lamar Student-Athletes Receiving Diplomas On Saturday BEAUMONT, Texas - Twenty-one Lamar University student-athletes are scheduled to graduate during Commencement exercises Saturday at the Montagne Center on the LU campus. Student-athletes from every sport at Lamar (except first-year program women's soccer) are among the 21 approved to graduate. Of those earning degrees, five student-athletes represent baseball, four from women's track & field/cross country, three from men's basketball, two from men's golf, two from men's tennis, two from volleyball and one each from women's basketball, women's tennis and men's track & field/cross country. Among the graduates are Clerc Koenck of cross country/track and Lamar Sanders of men's basketball, who were named the 2007-08 Female and Male Athlete of the Year at last month's Student-Athlete Awards Banquet. Koenck was also named the Southland Conference Athlete of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year in both cross country and indoor track & field. Also graduating are Molli Abel of the volleyball team, who, like Koenck, was selected the SLC Player of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year for her sport. Teammate Courtney Mitchell will also walk. Men's basketball standouts Darren Hopkins, Lamar Sanders and Currye Todd are also set to walk across the stage above the playing surface where they helped the Cardinals to their first SLC regular-season championship since 1983-84. Hopkins was a two-time All-SLC pick on the court and a second-team Academic All-SLC selection in 2007-08. The lone senior on the women's basketball squad - Aida Bakhos - will also receive her degree on Saturday. She was a first-team Academic All-SLC honoree this past season after earning four letters at LU. Casey Clendenon and Russell Helson of the men's golf team and Tyler Cobb and David Wanja of the men's tennis team are scheduled to be on the floor as well. The following student-athletes will not be able to attend due to athletic competitions across the country: Brad Depoy, Travis Dunson, Tim Erickson, David Moore and Jeff Vickers from baseball (at Northwestern State); Andrea Martinez from women's tennis (NCAA Tournament at Fresno State); Stephen Boone from men's track & field/cross country (at SLC Championships in Huntsville); and Kim Ballenger, Koenck, Candice Sewell and Toni Sylvester from women's track & field/cross country (at SLC Championships in Huntsville). Spring 2008 Lamar Student-Athlete Graduates Name Hometown Baseball Brad Depoy The Woodlands Travis Dunson The Colony Tim Erickson Sour Lake David Moore Boulder, Colo. Jeff Vickers Nanaimo, British Columbia Men's Basketball Darren Hopkins Baltimore, Md. Lamar Sanders Hickory Flat, Miss. Currye Todd Byhalia, Miss. Women's Basketball Aida Bakhos Beirut, Lebanon/Midland, Texas Men's Golf Casey Clendenon Katy Russell Helson Georgetown Men's Tennis Tyler Cobb Beaumont David Wanja Katy Women's Tennis Andrea Martinez Durango, Mexico Men's Track/CC Stephen Boone Nassau Bay Women's Track/CC Kimberly Ballenger Tatum Clerc Koenck Anacoco, La. Candice Sewell San Antonio Toni Sylvester Sour Lake Volleyball Molli Abel Friendswood Courtney Mitchell Sugar Land

Clark's dominance forces Game 3 for Cards Gabe Pruett The Orange Leader HUMBLE — It is now very safe to say Bridge City senior Jason Clark could never run for mayor in the city of Needville. Clark, who eliminated the Blue Jays a season ago, forced a Game 3 Friday night with a complete game, one-hitter as the Cardinals evened the series with a 8-1 victory. Game 3 will be back at Humble High School at 2 p.m. today. The story of Clark's day goes way beyond his 12 strike outs and just one actual base runner besides a first inning home run. Clark arrived at Humble High School without a very crucial part of his baseball uniform – his usual No. 6 jersey. Bridge City Assistant Coach Chris Moore offered up his jersey with a very peculiar number on the back – No. 13. It worked out to be a charm as Clark also had a two-RBI triple in the third inning. "No clue really where my jersey is," Clark said. "I think it's in the back of my truck or between my truck and where the bus was. Coach Moore isn't getting this one back." Which is fine with Moore who said he wouldn't take it back anyways even if Clark offered. The Cardinals, who lost 2-1 Thursday to the Blue Jays, jumped on Needville early with two runs in the first. Matt Hicks, who has been without a hit since playing Kirbyille late in district, came alive with a two-run homer to left field off Needville (21-6) starter Rikky Salazar. It was sweet redemption for Hicks who lost Game 1 after giving up two homers on Thursday while striking out nine Blue Jays. "That felt great," Hicks said. "I am finally able to start over so it's a good feeling." Hicks was almost at a loss for words on how Clark throws against Needville in such crucial times. "I couldn't tell you where it comes from," Hicks added. "Joe (Robertson) and I were talking in the infield and he just dominates this team. It really proves again we have three strong pitchers who can come in at anytime. Clark credited his ability to throw off-speed to the Blue Jay hitters. "I don't what it is about facing them," Clark said. "I knew when Joe got on to lead the game off it would be a total different ball game. I was not going to go out this early. Right when Coach (Billy) Bryant said I was pitching I said the series would not end with me." With the score 2-1 in the top of the third, Bridge City (25-6) was able to scratch across four runs on four hits. Blake Hubbard and Blake Snyder led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Hubbard put Bridge City up 2-1 when Jaden Dillon hit his third double of the series. It was then Clark's turn to get in the fun as he tripled down the right field line to score both Snyder and Dillon. Clark would score when Luke Rhodes hit a sacrifice fly and the Cardinals led 6-1 after three. Robertson scored again in the fourth inning after reaching first on an infield single. The sophomore third baseman then moved all the way to third on a Needville throwing error and Hicks made it 7-1 with a sacrifice fly to score Robertson. Rhodes scored the Cardinals final run of the night when he led off the top of the sixth with a double to center. Rhodes took third on an Eric Matthews single and scored when Robertson hit a sacrifice fly to make the final, 7-1, score. "Thirteen hits is what our guys can do," Bryant said. "Our kids can hit the ball. We just have to be smart and take good cuts." Bryant could only laugh when asked about the magic Clark has over the Blue Jays. "He's able to throw three pitches for strikes and that is his cuverball, fastball and change-up," Bryant said. "When he does that he is able to keep batters off balance. It was a clutch win for us." Clark knows the outing would have been nothing if not for a Cardinals' defense which committed just one error in the game. "Joe and Eric helped pull this one out," Clark said. "They made a lot of plays behind me tonight." Clark only complained once he said to a fellow teammate. "I had to tell Jaden to stop hitting all those doubles in front of me," Clark joked. "I can't get anybody in if he is driving everyone in. It felt good after his double though to bring him and Blake in." Salazar went six innings for the Blue Jays giving up 12 hits with one walk and two strike outs. Dillon could be expected to start Game 3 for the Cardinals. Hicks added he would be able to come in the game in relief if the situation called for it. "If they need me to pitch, I want to do it," Hicks said. "There is nothing wrong with my arm and I'm ready to go at anytime." Bryant knows his Cardinals are in for a good game today with Needville not wanting to be eliminated the exact same way it was last season. "We have to play the way we are able to play, like tonight," Bryant said. "We are going to need a few clutch performances from some players. This is what playoff baseball is all about. There are two good teams on this field and it should be a great game."

4-0 Houston in the 4th

Looks like ya'll grew up.

North Shore has one of the toughest schedules i've ever seen!!

Game 3 if necessary i'm assuming will follow game 2?

Saturday 2pm game 3

Needville has only one hit tonight.

Jasper, without a doubt!

Congrats!!! Game 3 Saturday at 2:30!!!

Congrats Kountze on a great season!

Who will pitch game 3 saturday?

8) 8)

Any updates?

7-1 BC 4th

6-1 BC after 3

5-1 BC 3rd..If there is a game 3 it will be Saturday at 2pm

3-1 BC 3rd.

Predictions? No details on when and where yet.

Lamar Consol Wins and will now play PN-G!

You finish!! I'm back to baseball!

2-1 BC bottom 1

The Orange Crush Softball Organization would like to invite everyone to a COED Rag-Ball tournament to be held at CRUSH Fields across the street from WO-S High School in West Orange on May 17-18. All proceeds go to Deborah Viator, currently being treated for breast cancer, and Karen Wilson, who is being treated for lung cancer. For more information call Stacia Cole at 745-5188.

7-5 Lamar going to the 7th.