PN-G's Sami Jo signs with LSC-PA

By Cody Pastorella
The Port Arthur News

May 15, 2008 10:55 pm

— Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Port Neches-Groves softball came together Thursday afternoon in the Competition Gym at the Reservation to sign the Lady Indians' Sami Jo Williams.
Williams, a two year starter at shortstop, batted over .400 this season, leading the Tribe to a second place finish in District 22-4A and a run into the postseason. The Lady Indians made it to the second round before losing to Santa Fe in two games.
Williams, who is also a letterman in both volleyball and basketball, led the team in RBIs as well. PN-G finished its season at 18-8-1 and posted a 11-3 league record.
"Playing at the next level has been something I've dreamed about since I was a little girl," Williams said about signing with LSC-PA. "It feels great that I am going to have that opportunity."
Williams added that she chose to become a Seahawk because of the location and the quality of the program.
"I really wanted to stay close to home and I am very close to my family. I love my family very much so this works out," she said. LSC-PA, which started its softball program in 2004, competes in the XIV conference for Texas Junior Colleges.
Head coach Vance Edwards said he is pleased to get a player such as Williams.
"She's just a quality athlete and overall great ball player. She understands the game and she's a good hitter. She's coming from good coaches and a good program," Edwards said.
Edwards also added that Williams will play first base.
"We're losing our first baseman and so we have a hole to fill there. She will be able to step right in at that spot and I know she will do a great job for us," he said.
Williams typically played at first base before making the move to shortstop. PN-G head coach Brook Fontenot said Williams is one of those players that can play anywhere.
"I needed a someone I could count on to play there and she was the easiest choice," Fontenot said earlier in the season. About getting the chance to play at the next level and what she meant to the Lady Indians program, Fontenot said Williams would be greatly missed.
"She was obviously a leader," she said. "She led in voice and action and this team really looked to her a whole lot. She was a clutch player."
Williams said her athletic career at PN-G was very instrumental to the success she is enjoying now.
"All my coaches taught me and helped me throughout high school. If it wasn't for them," she said, "I wouldn't have made it this far. It was awesome to play here and it was just great to be a senior and help the team make it farther than we ever did while I was here (first time to advance to the second round since 2004)."
Lamar State College-Port Arthur is also expected to sign three more local players in the coming week.