BEAUMONT — Bring on baseball at Vincent-Beck Stadium at Lamar.
Port Neches-Groves’ Cole Girouard is ready and so is West Orange-Stark’s Payton Robertson. The future Cardinals were on the field at Vincent-Beck Tuesday during the Texas Association of Sports Officials All-Star game.
Roberton and Girouard were on separate teams, but the two got to watch what their Lamar teammates bring to the plate.
“I got a good view of what type of player he is,” Girouard said. “It was a good feeling watching him play.”
Nederland’s Zack Friesz was also in the game and he, too, will also play at Lamar next season.
Girouard brings a lot of speed to Lamar. He came up to bat in the middle of Tuesday’s game, and several players and Blue team coach Todd Trawhon of Orangefield called out: “Speed.’”
He batted .351 his senior year at PNG with 39 runs, two doubles, four triples and 13 steals.
Girouard on Tuesday swung at the second pitch he saw and popped up to third.
“I was a little anxious up there,” Girouard said during his Red team’s 8-2 loss. “I haven’t been in the batter’s box since we lost in the playoffs. It was a little nerve-racking, I can’t lie.”
Robertson played all over the infield for the Blue team and also went in to pitch. He batted .374 his senior year with 35 runs, 11 RBI, eight doubles, two homers and 24 steals.
“It was fun to be the only [WOS] senior out here,” Robertson said. “I wanted to represent my school well and I hope I did.”
Robertson said the best part of Tuesday’s game was the ability he had to meet some new friends and get to know some of the guys he has called an opponent for several years.
“You connect with the guys,” Robertson added. “You have been itching to meet them because you play against them all the time. It was pretty fun.
“We have had some workouts together between the guys coming to Lamar. I have been able to get to know them on a personal level. We got to see tonight how each other plays.”
Girouard agreed it was nice to play at Vincent-Beck to learn the field a little bit before next season under coach Will Davis.
“I have a feel for the field now,” Girouard said. “I like being here. It is a nice field. I love it.”