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Lions adding softball to varsity sports

Jerrod Knight
/
88.9 KETR

Texas A&M University-Commerce has added softball to its offerings. Following a redshirt year in '13-'14, varsity play will begin in 2015.

Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletic Director Ryan Ivey today announced a major addition to the Lion Athletic Department as A&M-Commerce will begin competing in softball beginning the 2014-15 athletic season.

“This is an historic moment for the Lion Athletic Department," said Ivey. "The northeast Texas region is full of quality softball talent and we look forward to having the opportunity to provide for them a place to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Adding a softball program will be a tremendous benefit to the institution and Commerce community. What a great day to be a Lion.”

Ivey announced the nationwide search for the program’s first-ever head coach will begin immediately with the position to be filled by July. Softball student-athletes can begin enrolling at A&M-Commerce in the fall of 2013 and will be given a redshirt season as skill and conditioning exercises will commence during the 2013-14 season.

The Lion softball program will then begin competing in fall exhibitions in 2014, leading up to the inaugural season in the spring of 2015. A&M-Commerce softball will play its home games at the Cain Sports Complex, north of Lion Soccer Field and adjacent to the throws areas for track and field.

Currently, A&M-Commerce offers six women's sports in addition to five men's sports. With the addition of softball, the Lions will also become the final Lone Star Conference school to sponsor the sport.

“With the recent changes in leadership in our athletic department, we feel the timing is right to begin softball,” stated Dr. Dan Jones, President and CEO of A&M-Commerce. "Softball will bring a whole new dimension to our athletic program. Talented women athletes will now have one more great reason to make A&M-Commerce their university of choice."

For more information on the newly formed Lion softball team and the 11 other A&M-Commerce Athletic programs, stay tuned to LionAthletics.com, as well as the A&M-Commerce official Facebook and Twitter accounts.