Jan. 19, 2005

PLANO - Lamar University, the defending regular season and tournament champion, has been selected to capture its third straight title by both the coaches and sports information directors in the preseason Southland Conference polls, which were released by the league office on Wednesday.

Lamar posted a 40-16 overall record last season and an 18-8 mark in SLC play to capture its all-time best 10th SLC title. The Cardinals went on to become the first top-seeded team to claim the postseason tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Regional at Houston, which was Lamar's third straight post-season appearance and 11th in school history.

The Cardinals have a lot of offense to replace in the lineup with the loss of All-American and SLC tournament MVP Jordan Foster. Also gone is 2004 SLC pitcher of the year Kyle Stutes. However, the Cardinals do return two preseason first team All-SLC selections in junior William Delage and sophomore Derrick Gordon, who was the freshman of the year last season.

"We lost 10 players to professional baseball off last year's team, so to be rated as high as we are is a statement to the quality of our program," said Jim Gilligan, who is entering his 28th season as Lamar's head coach. "It shows that Lamar's program is well respected by the rest of the coaches in the league, which is a testament to the coaching staff and players that we have brought in.

"It's not going to be easy to repeat. When you're picked to win, the rest of the teams in the league are gunning for you. I'm encouraged by the way the guys are playing in practice right now, but that all changes when we play an actual game. I look forward to getting the season started to see where we are."

Lamar received five first-place votes and accumulated 74 points. Northwestern State received three first-place and also totaled 74 points and is the co-favorites to win the league championship. Texas-Arlington received one-first place vote and is third with 64 points. Texas State is fourth with 60 points, followed by UL-Monroe (52), who received one first-place vote, Texas-San Antonio (34), McNeese State (32), Sam Houston State (31), Southeastern Louisiana (18) and Nicholls State (11).

There were a few changes in the SID poll. Lamar received six first-place votes and 95 points and NWLA received three first-place votes and 92 points. UTA was third with 73 points and ULM received the remaining first-place vote and was fourth with 70 points. Texas State was fifth with 65 points followed by McNeese State (43) and UTSA (43), SHSU (33), SLU (19) and Nicholls (17).

Lamar and NWLA both placed five players on preseason All-SLC teams. Earning first team All-SLC honors for Lamar were Delage, Gordon and sophomore Michael Ambort at catcher. A Nederland native, Delage was 6-0 with a 2.00 earned run average with 68 strikeouts in 72.0 innings pitched and limited opponents to a .203 batting average.

Gordon, who prepped at West Brook HS, posted a 7-3 record with a 1.92 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings pitched. He recorded two complete-games and limited opponents to a .190 batting average. Ambort hit .270 with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 40 runs batted in last season.

Also named to the preseason All-SLC first team were Hunter Thoms of NWLA at first base, Brandon Morgan of NWLA at second base, Kyle Anson of TXST at third base, Ryan Crew of UTSA at shortstop, Bobby Barbier of NWLA at designated hitter and Justin LaBorde of ULM, Bubba Bell of NICH and Charlie Kingery of McN in the outfield. Michael Gardner of UTA was the other pitcher named to the team.

Lamar seniors Jeremy Gray and Adrian Cantu were named to the preseason All-SLC second team. Gray, a second baseman, hit .289 with 49 runs scored, 13 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI last season. Cantu, a third baseman, hit .286 with 36 runs scored, a team-high 20 doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI.

Joining Gray and Cantu on the second team were Anthony Hatch-1B (NICH), Dominic Ramos-SS (TXST), Brett Lewis-C (UTSA), Chris Fontenot-OF (McN), Chris Lewis-OF (UTSA), Rusty Jones-OF (NWLA), Karl Krailo-DH (SHSU), Matt Green-P (ULM), Daniel Lonsberry-P (NWLA), Jacob Marceaux-P (McN).

Lamar opens the 2005 season by hosting Jackson State for a three-game series Feb. 5-6 at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by visiting the Montage Center Ticket Office during normal business hours or by calling (409) 880-1715.

2005 Southland Conference Baseball Preseason Polls

Coaches Poll (1st-place votes) Points

1. Lamar (5) 74

Northwestern State (3) 74

3. Texas-Arlington (1) 64

4. Texas State 60

5. Louisiana-Monroe (1) 52

6. Texas-San Antonio 34

7. McNeese State 32

8. Sam Houston State 31

9. Southeastern Louisiana 18

10. Nicholls State 11

Sports Information Directors Points

1. Lamar (6) 95

2. Northwestern State (3) 92

3. Texas-Arlington 73

4. Louisiana-Monroe (1) 70

5. Texas State 65

6. McNeese State 43

Texas-San Antonio 43

8. Sam Houston State 33

9. Southeastern Louisiana 19

10. Nicholls State 17

2005 Preseason All-Southland Conference Baseball Teams

FIRST TEAM

1B Hunter Thoms Northwestern State Jr. Fort Worth, Texas

2B Brandon Morgan Northwestern State Jr. Fort Worth, Texas

3B Kyle Anson Texas State Sr. Horizon City, Texas

SS Ryan Crew Texas-San Antonio Jr. Sugarland, Texas

C Mike Ambort Lamar So. Rockville Centre, N.Y.

OF Justin LaBorde Louisiana-Monroe Jr. West Monroe, La.

OF Bubba Bell Nicholls State Sr. Paris, Texas

OF Charlie Kingery McNeese State So. Kinder, La.

DH Bobby Barbier Northwestern State Jr. Lafayette, La.

P Michael Gardner Texas-Arlington Jr. Arlington, Texas

P Derrick Gordon Lamar So. Beaumont, Texas

P William Delage Lamar Jr. Port Neches, Texas

SECOND TEAM

1B Anthony Hatch Nicholls State Sr. Scottsdale, Ariz.

2B Jeremy Gray Lamar Sr. Orange, Texas

3B Adrian Cantu Lamar Sr. San Antonio, Texas

SS Dominic Ramos Texas State Sr. Pflugerville, Texas

C Brett Lewis Texas-Arlington So. Rockwall, Texas

OF Chris Fontenot McNeese State So. Lafayette, La.

OF Chris Lewis Texas-San Antonio Sr. Round Rock, Texas

OF Rusty Jones Northwestern State Sr. Shawnee, Kan.

DH Karl Krailo Sam Houston State So. Houston, Texas

P Matt Green Louisiana-Monroe Jr. Monroe, La.

P Daniel Lonsberry Northwestern State Sr. Alexandria, La.

P Jacob Marceaux McNeese State Jr. Jennings, La.