Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT – Lamar senior infielders Stijn van der Meer and Jake Nash were tabbed as members of the Southland Conference Preseason Teams, including van der Meer’s first team selection.
Van der Meer was the league’s second team shortstop a year ago after being the conference’s regular season leader in hits (78) and was third in batting average at .351. He finished his first campaign with the Cardinals going 7-of-8 in a two-game tilt at Sam Houston State.
The Rosmalen, Netherlands native, who was one of only two Cardinals to play in every game, began as Lamar’s leadoff hitter and stayed there until the 38th game of the season when he was moved into the third spot in the lineup.
He was LU’s leader in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, slugging, on-base percentage was second in doubles. He had the most multiple-hits games (25) on the team and accounted for three four-hit contests along with LU’s third-longest hit streak (10).
He was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings South Central All-Region team.
Nash finished his 2015 campaign with the team’s second-highest batting average at .324 in 49 games played. The Palestine native was versatile in the field too playing first and third base as well as left and right field at least during the year. The incoming-senior scored 21 runs this season and knocked in another 19.
Nash was picked as honorable mentions on last season’s all-conference teams at first base, but is expected to go back to third base for the 2016 season.
Southeastern Louisiana led all schools with six picks, including four on the first team. McNeese State and Northwestern State each had three on the teams while Nicholls tied Lamar with two. Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist, and Stephen F. Austin all placed one each on the squad.
Returning players who earned first- and second-team all-conference in 2015 were automatically placed on the preseason teams, and third team selections move into vacated positions on the first and second preseason teams. The league coaches vote on the remaining spots.
The Cardinals open head coach Jim Gilligan’s final ride on Feb. 19 with the season opener against Southeast Missouri State at Vincent-Beck Stadium. That series will be played Friday, Saturday and Sunday, followed by a one-game set with Arizona on the following Monday and LSU that Wednesday.