A former Cardinal student-athlete himself, Lamar University hitting coach Scott Hatten has turned into one of Lamar University’s most successful assistants during his 25 years on staff with the Cardinals. Hatten, who played in Beaumont during the 1992 and 1993 seasons, works primarily with the hitters and outfielders as well as being tabbed as recruiting coordinator in 2016.
In his time at his alma mater, he has developed an offense that is nothing short of lethal, averaging six or more runs per game for the majority of those years, and the Cardinals have never averaged less than 3.9 under his tutelage. Five times Lamar has turned in an average of seven or more runs per contest with the all-time high in 2003 (7.3 rpg) for the first of LU’s back-to-back championships seasons. Since his promotion to recruiting coordinator in 2016 Big Red has had numerous top 100 ranked recruiting classes, including the previous four JUCO transfer classes which ranked among the top 14 nationally with two of those ranked in the top 10.
Hatten continued his tradition of producing talented hitters as he coached Damian Ruiz in 2025, who broke the school's single-season record for runs scored and the single-season record for the longest hitting streak. Ruiz was named first team All-Southland Conference while also earning SLC Hitter of the Year after he batted .388 with a conference-leading 83 hits, 22 doubles, 76 runs, and .511 on base percentage. The Cards led the conference in hits (586), RBIs (398), runs (443), walks (334) and on-base percentage (.416).
Among the biggest signings of the 2019 class was JC Correa, the younger brother of Minnesota Twins All-Star Carlos Correa. JC Correa made his own name in the college ranks, finishing with the team lead in batting average (.332), hits (74), doubles (14), home runs (10), and RBIs (44). He slugged at a .529 clip and had a .381 OBP. He drew 17 walks and two hit-by-pitch while striking out just 26 times in 223 at-bats, striking out just once every 9.31 times he stepped up to the plate.
In SLC games, Correa ranked 11th in batting average (.359), sixth in total bases (73), 11th in slugging percentage (.557), first in hits (47), fourth in RBIs (28), tied for sixth in homers (six), fourth in plate appearances (142), and first in at-bats (131). Correa was drafted by the Astros in the 33rd round in 2018 and again in the 38th round in 2019 but will return to Lamar for his senior season.
Correa is just one in a long line of talented hitters who have come through the Cardinals’ program since Hatten as been on staff, but none may be more impressive than 2023 Southland Player of the Year Ryan Snell. A former walk-on, Hatten helped transform Snell into one of the top collegiate players in the country last season. Already known for his prowess behind the plate, the all-defensive team catcher hit .317 with a .412 on-base percentage and ranked second in the SLC in home runs (17) – just missing the school’s single-season record by one as a senior. He also ranked second in the league in doubles (17), RBIs (59), total bases (138), walks (33) and OPS (1.066).
A 2023 third-team All-American and first-team ABCA All-Region selection, Snell became the first player in program history to be named as a finalist for the coveted Buster Posey Award (given annually to the collegiate catcher). He also became the 89th Cardinal to be drafted when he was taken in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Amatuer Draft by the Washington Nationals. Snell was also the 16th hitter to be selected under Hatten.
In addition to Snell, Hatten was key in the development of All-Americans Jordan Foster, Michael Ambort, Sam Bumpers, and Reid Russell, as well as LU record holder Robin Adames. Foster was named an All-American by Collegiate Baseball, ABCA and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2003. He accumulated a .417 batting average, crushed seven home runs and drove in 71.
Adames finished second all-time in career hits (252). He holds the record for most at-bats (835), games played (215), and games started (209). He also holds the hit-by-pitch record (39), ranks fifth in all-time home runs (26) and total bases (377). He's sixth in RBIs (156) and ranks in the Top 10 in career doubles (45).
Foster, one of Hatten’s most prolific pupils, set LU career records in batting average (.374), hits (256) and doubles (63). He was also a part of a team that set team records in batting average (.318 in 2003), hits (643 in 2003) and doubles (152 in 2001).
Ambort was picked as an All-American by Baseball America and ABCA after his .336 hitting average, 18 homers and 65 RBI in 2005. Ambort was the Southland Conference Hitter of the Year in 2005 and holds a league record with four grand slams in 2005. He is the Lamar home run king with 38 long balls.
Bumpers was an All-American in 2014 after he recorded a .361 batting average, with six home runs and 37 RBI. He was the league’s newcomer of the year in 2013 and hitter of the year in 2014. His seven hits in a game against McNeese State on March 28, 2014 tied a conference record.
Russell was crowned Southland Conference Hitter of the Year in 2016 after he tied a school record and ranked 13th nationally with 18 long balls, in only 54 games. He was the league’s top home run threat and ranked second on the team in hitting (.354). He was second in the conference in total bases (139) and slugging (.665), and fourth in hitting and total hits (73). He was drafted in the 2017 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in the 33rd round by the Houston Astros.
All four players join 12 other Cardinals who were voted to the ABCA South Central Region Team, most recently Snell in 2023. Both Foster and Ambort were picked to the team twice, Foster in 2003 and 2004, Ambort in 2005 and 2007 and Russell in 2016. Shortstop Stijn van der Meer was added to that list in 2015.
Also named as Southland Conference Hitter of the Year was Collin DeLome in 2006, the same season he was voted league player of the year. DeLome wrapped up the year with a .376 batting average, 11 homers and 56 runs batted in.
With the Levittown, N.Y., native as the leader of the lineup, Lamar has advanced to four NCAA Regionals, won two Southland Conference regular season titles (2003, 2004), two Southland Conference Tournament championships (2002, 2010) and been nationally ranked five times. Hatten’s offense has also set or tied 35 school, team or individual records.
Hatten has coached 97 All-Southland Conference team members, 29 Southland Conference All-Tournament selections and two Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Players (Jordan Foster, 2004; Anthony Moore, 2010).
Under Hatten, the Cardinals have led the Southland in hitting three times. In 2008, LU posted a .298 batting average, in 2006 a .314 mark and the last time in 2013 with a .300 average.
He began his coaching career at New York Tech, spending five seasons there before joining the Lamar staff. He also began his collegiate playing career at the school, hitting .329 with 29 RBI.
As a Cardinal, Hatten helped the Red and White to the 1993 Sun Belt Championship, winning the conference title and earning a bid to an NCAA Regional in College Station. He completed his career with a .263 average, 56 runs, 36 RBIs and 30 steals.
He is married to the former Kim Jones, and the two have one daughter, Kaitlyn.
