BEAUMONT, Texas - Even with preparations for the upcoming 2023 season in place, Lamar University's softball team has already received commitments from 10 players, who signed their letter of intents on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Each of these players will be joining campus in the fall of 2023.

"We are extremely excited to add this large talented class to our family," said head coach Amy Hooks. "These 10 athletes not only fit our needs on the softball field, but they elevate our culture. This class is filled with hardworking, versatile athletes that play travel ball at the highest level. We have worked extremely hard to put together a class we feel will have an immediate impact on the program. This class is going to be special and I'm excited to see what they will accomplish in their four years at Lamar University."


Raigan Alexis Brannon - C/1B/3B - Mansfield, Texas/Lake Ridge HS

Looking to contribute to the Cardinals' squad, Brannon, a Mansfield resident, is currently enjoying a high school career as an Eagle at Lake Ridge. To date, Brannon has a .355 batting average with two homers, eight doubles, 32 RBI and a .980 fielding percentage. Last season, she led the Eagles to the 2022 6A state championship game and earned District 11-6A first team all-district catcher and second team all-area honors.

Academically, she is a three-time academic all-district and two-time teacher choice award recipient. She has played with the Texas Glory softball team since the age of 13. Brannon will plan to major in education at LU.

"Brannon will add depth to catching and first base. She is someone with an extremely high ceiling that loves to compete. Brannon is a play maker on defense and steady bat on offense."
- Amy Hooks



Aubrey Brown - 2B/SS/UTL - Wylie, Texas/Wylie HS

Hailing from Wylie, Brown is a three-time all-district and all-state shortstop. Leading the Pirates of Wylie High School to the state playoffs from 2019-2021, she earned both district defensive player of the year and hitter of the year accolades in 2021. Throughout her career to date, Brown has a .500 batting average while stealing 90 bases and scoring 150 runs.

She spent time with the Texas Glory Organization club team where she led them to a runner-up finish in the 2020 Top Gun National tournament. Academically, she was an A/B honor roll student and will be majoring in accounting at Lamar.

"Aubrey is a versatile athlete that can play multiple positions. Aubrey has great range in the outfield and a good arm. She will add speed and athleticism to our roster."
- Amy Hooks



Sam Flores - INF - Humble, Texas/Summer Creek HS

A native of Humble, Flores is currently a member of the Bulldogs of Summer Creek High School. A current .437 hitter, she now has 76 career hits, 70 RBI, 20 doubles, two triples, and 10 homers. She's been selected as both a first team and second team all-district while leading the Bulldogs to a bi-district championship and an appearance in the area round in the playoffs.

She played club softball with the Texas Glory 18U team. Flores earned A/B honor roll in three years, is in the top 10% of her class and plans to major in exercise science at LU.

"Flores is a tough, competitive athlete. She will add depth to our corners and bring a reliable bat to our line up."
- Amy Hooks



Madison Guidry - LHP - La Porte, Texas/La Porte HS

Preparing to arrive to Beaumont from La Porte, Guidry has had a stellar high school career for the La Porte Bulldogs. Winning 28 games in the circle, she struck out 388 batters in 267 innings and currently holds a 1.25 career ERA. She also has a batting average of .431, which includes five homers. Three years of her career were spent with the Impact Gold Jackson 18U national team.

Guidry is an all-district winner for both softball and volleyball as well being softball team MVP for three years and named the captain of the team. Leading the Bulldogs to the playoffs in every season, Guidry was recognized by the Houston Chronicle as the girl's athlete of the week and also earned honors from VYPE.  She even received academic all-district honors and was a member of the national honor society. Guidry will plan to major in sports medicine on campus.

"Guidry is a two-sport athlete that plays softball and volleyball. She is an athletic left-handed pitcher with multiple ways to get hitters out.  She has a great presence in the circle and always wants the ball."
- Amy Hooks



Veronica "Roni" Harrison - 1B/3B - Alvin, Texas/Alvin HS

An Alvin, Texas native, Harrison is currently a Yellowjacket for the softball team at Alvin High School. Playing first and third, Harrison has led the Yellowjackets to 71 wins while collecting 108 hits, 12 homers, and 112 RBIs. She has also accumulated first team and second team all-district honors while achieving team defensive player of the year and honorable mention all-state honors.

She's also a member of the National Honor Society at Alvin and played her club ball with the Hotshots National team. Harrison will plan to major in Environmental Science at LU.

"Roni is a solid first baseman that does her job. She has a big presence in the box and brings power to the lineup."
- Amy Hooks



Lainie Schaefer - OF/1B - Houston, Texas/Friendswood HS

Born in Houston, Schaefer spent her entire high school career with the Mustangs of Friendswood. A career .427 hitter with an on base percentage of 455, Schaefer led her team to two playoff appearances and garnered the Mustangs a high state ranking of sixth.

She was honorable mention by both the district and state while achieving all-district outfielder of the year, all county first team outfield, and second team all-VYPE outfielder as well as being the VYPE public school fan player of the year nominee. She will major in communication-advertising at Lamar

"Lainie has an infectious personality that will be the spark on the team. She has the ability to hit the long ball and will add depth to the outfield."
- Amy Hooks



Roxy Thompson - OF/IF - Dallas, Texas/Rockwall HS

Joining the Cardinals from Dallas, Thompson is coming off a junior year where she batted .490, drove in 46 RBI, scored 43 runs and stole 18 bases for the Yellow Jackets. In her career to date, she has been named the 2022 District Offensive Player of the Year, first team all-district, and TSWA All-State while leading Rockwall to a bi-district championship and an appearance in the state semifinals.

An A/B Honor Roll student as well as a two-time Academic All-District player, Thompson will major in pre-dental at LU.

"Roxy is someone that loves to compete. She is a highly talented utility player with a high softball IQ. Roxy will be a consistent bat in our lineup."
- Amy Hooks



Makayla Valle - RHP/UTL - Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS

A native of Aurora, Colo., Valle is a pitcher and utility hitter for the Wolves of Grandview. Pitching 358.2 innings, Valle struck out 417 batters and would help her team to a Centennial League Conference Championship and the Region 6-5A championship in 2022 as they finished in the top eight in the state tournament.

Three times a second team all-league member before picking up first team honors, she was the Centennial League pitcher of the year and an all-state first team honor. Valle will plan to major in kinesiology and exercise science at LU.

"Makayla comes to us from Colorado. She is a crafty right-handed pitcher that spins the ball very well.  She is a competitor in the circle and always gives her team a chance to win."
- Amy Hooks



Emma Wardlaw - RHP - Comfort, Texas/Comfort HS

A native of Comfort, Wardlaw was a contributor for the Deer of Comfort HS. In 236 innings pitched, she struck out 358 batters and walked 45 batters while posting 38 wins in the circle. She was also a member of the Texas Bombers Gold American 18U club team.

Academically, she earned two academic all-district honors and was a member of the national honor society. She will be majoring in exercise science at LU.

"Wardlaw is a right-handed pitcher that is going to add depth to the bullpen. She is someone who keeps the ball down and induces groundouts."
- Amy Hooks


Makenzie Wright - RHP - Pearland, Texas/Dawson HS

Located in Pearland, Wright played catcher and first base for the Eagles of Dawson High School. To date, she has a .454 batting average a .508 on base percentage, 39 hits, 26 RBI, seven homers, and 10 doubles. She received first team all-district honors twice, defensive MVP, and was ranked in the top 50 in both Extra Innings Elite Catcher (22) and the Extra Innings Elite Top 100 (49) lists).

She also played for the Impact Gold Jackson 18U club team. While there, she batted .403 with a .452 on base percentage along with 23 hits, 18 RBI, five homers, and five doubles. Wright will look to major in graphic design while at LU.

"Wright is a wall behind the plate. She has a strong arm and commands the defense very well. Wright will add plus power to the hitting lineup."
- Amy Hooks
 

#WeAreLU