NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M: Sami James, an infielder from Dewey, Okla., became the second athlete last spring to join the Arkansas roster for the 1998 season. A first-team Bi-State Athletic Conference pick as a sophomore, James also earned honorable mention Region II recognition in 1997. She led the team with 45 runs scored while hitting .268 as a sophomore. In 53 games, James fielded .938 with 89 putouts and 79 assists. As a freshman, James hit .275 with a .373 slugging percentage and a .377 on-base percentage. James started all 44 games in her first year of collegiate ball with 102 at-bats, 16 runs scored and 24 RBI. She had 28 hits, five doubles, one triple and one home run.
At DEWEY: Prior to her JUCO days, James led Dewey High School to a #1 state ranking and the state title as a freshman, a #2 ranking and the runner-up spot as a sophomore and junior, and back to a #1 ranking and state title as a senior while winning regionals all four years. She was an all-state selection in 1994 at second base. During her high school career, James hit .326 with a .420 slugging percentage and a .962 fielding percentage with only 17 errors in four seasons. She recorded 159 hits with 43 doubles, four triples and 97 RBI. James hit better than .300 in both her junior (.344) and senior (.338) years.
PERSONAL: Born April 25, 1977, Sami Lynn James is the only child of John and Darlene James of Dewey, Okla. She plans to major in secondary education.
At DEWEY: Prior to her JUCO days, James led Dewey High School to a #1 state ranking and the state title as a freshman, a #2 ranking and the runner-up spot as a sophomore and junior, and back to a #1 ranking and state title as a senior while winning regionals all four years. She was an all-state selection in 1994 at second base. During her high school career, James hit .326 with a .420 slugging percentage and a .962 fielding percentage with only 17 errors in four seasons. She recorded 159 hits with 43 doubles, four triples and 97 RBI. James hit better than .300 in both her junior (.344) and senior (.338) years.
PERSONAL: Born April 25, 1977, Sami Lynn James is the only child of John and Darlene James of Dewey, Okla. She plans to major in secondary education.