Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Lamar baseball outfielder Reid Russell, 2016 Southland Conference Hitter of the Year, was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association 2017 Preseason All-American Team, announced the organization Tuesday afternoon.

Russell, who tied Michael Ambort’s school record 18 home runs in a season, was listed the third team and is the only Southland Conference player mentioned by the NCBWA, which was founded in 1962. He is the first Cardinal to earn the honor since Ambort in 2006.

In his first season, the Longview native earned several honors, including the chance to compete at the TDAmeritrade Home Run Derby in Omaha following the College World Series – in which he finished third. He was voted first-team All-Southland Conference selection and to the ABCA South Central All-Region squad.

He finished his season ranked 13th in the country in homers and his mark of 0.33 a game was seventh in the nation. He knocked in 62 runs on the year and was the first 60-RBI Cardinal since Ambort’s 63 in 2007. He was just shy of the LU Triple Crown with a .354 batting average.

Russell had 73 base knocks on the year and nine doubles. He scored 41 runs and wrapped up the year with a .665 slugging percentage and .410 on-base percentage. He was second in the league in total bases and slugging, fourth in hitting and seventh in total hits.

The junior transfer notched an 18-game hit streak, seventh longest in school history, and was one of five Cardinals to record multiple-homer games during the 2016 campaign.

The Southland Conference will announce its preseason teams and polls in the coming weeks. The 2017 campaign, first under head coach Will Davis, is slated to open with the Cardinal Classic on Feb. 17 at Vincent-Beck Stadium.  Russell leads a lineup that has six returners from the 2016 squad that finished 35-19.