To commemorate 40 years of community support, the University of Houston-Victoria is inviting Crossroads residents out to Riverside Stadium Tuesday for a free night of baseball, prizes and anniversary festivities.

UHV is giving away tickets to the Victoria Generals game against the Acadiana Cane Cutters. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Fans coming out to the summer collegiate baseball game will receive an assortment of UHV giveaways at the gate. Special prizes also will be awarded to those in attendance throughout the game, and fans will receive a UHV souvenir cup with a soft drink purchase at the concession stand. UHV’s mascot, jaX the jaguar, will be greeting fans before the game begins.

Phil Castille

“UHV Night at the Victoria Generals game is a great chance for our friends in the community to come out to watch a ballgame and help us celebrate 40 years of higher education,” UHV President Phil Castille said. “UHV has grown beyond anyone’s dreams when the University of Houston opened this institution as its first branch campus in 1973. This wouldn’t have been possible without the terrific community support. We are looking forward to celebrating this anniversary with the community on Tuesday.”

Before the game gets underway, UHV student Brooke Dolezal will sing the national anthem, and UHV softball coach Keri Lambeth will throw out the first pitch. Dolezal is a Moulton resident who is majoring in history at UHV.

Lambeth recently completed her sixth season coaching the UHV softball team. She has won 211 games at the university and guided the Jaguars to three National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships. This past season, Lambeth’s squad won the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Tournament in Victoria and made it to the NAIA opening round title game in Lubbock.

Ash Walyuchow

“The addition of athletics has been a significant milestone to the university’s history, and a lot of the early success on the field can be credited to coach Lambeth,” UHV Athletic Director Ashley Walyuchow said.

The Generals game is the latest in a series of events to celebrate UHV’s 40th anniversary. UHV has introduced jaX the Jaguar mascot, broken ground on Jaguar Suites residence hall, started a new lecture series and launched a 40th anniversary website at 40th.uhv.edu.

Blake Koch

“We’re honored to be able to partner with UHV and host one of its 40th anniversary events at our home game on Tuesday,” said Blake Koch, Victoria Generals vice president and general manager. “UHV and the Victoria Generals both have Victoria’s best interests at heart and strive to be ingrained in the fabric of the community.”

Throughout the Generals’ season, UHV also is sponsoring between-innings contests on the field. Participants will be chosen from fans in attendance. The winner of each contest will receive a UHV-themed prize.

While there are no UHV baseball players on the Generals roster this season, there are several players with local ties. Victoria native Daniel Tunchez Jr. is back for his second season with the Generals. The senior pitcher at Eastfield College in Mesquite played basketball at Memorial High School.

Another Victoria native, Hayden Vesely, joined the team the day before the season opener. Vesley batted .322 this past season at Blinn College.

The roster also includes pitcher Glenn Sparkman of Ganado and players from the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas State.

Area residents can pick up free tickets to Tuesday’s game by visiting the kiosk on the first floor of the UHV University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St., during normal business hours. They also can get tickets in downtown Victoria at the Victoria Convention and Visitors Bureau or the City of Victoria Public Information office, 702 N. Main Street. The CVB and the Public Information office are in 700 Main Center, where many residents go to pay their city water bills.

For more information about the event, call the UHV Marketing & Communications Department at 361-570-4341.