KFDM COOP Posted July 17, 2008 Report Posted July 17, 2008 H-F’s Courville good fit for MC 17-18 By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Unless you are really on top of your Southeast Texas sports, there is one name on the Mid County 17-18-year-old All Stars that isn’t exactly a familiar one. That name is Randall Courville, a recent graduate and former two-sport star at Hampshire-Fannett. Courville played quarterback for the Longhorns as well as hitting over .470 with three home runs for the baseball team. Courville is the only Class 3A player on the Senior Babe Ruth team, a squad that is made up of players mostly from District 22-4A. But Courville says he is no stranger to Mid County. He said his first home was in Mid County and that even after his family moved to Fannett, he continued to play his summer ball here. "All but a couple years," he said. "The competition is just better here and a lot of these guys are good friends. They were the first guys I played with." As far as the competition level between District 22-4A and District 21-3A, Courville said with Bridge City, Jasper and Hardin-Jefferson, 21-3A can hold its own but when it comes to summer ball, but the Mid County area wins hands down. "I guess the biggest difference, from what I am used to at HF, and what goes on at PN-G or at Nederland, we had something like 30 kids try out for the entire program this past season. We didn't even have enough players to fill out a freshman squad. Being on an all star team like this, there is real competition to hold a spot in the lineup. "Every guy in the lineup is as good. I've never been on a team this big before. It really just adds to the intensity and level of competition and it certainly makes the team better as a unit. Knowing we have guys who can come off the bench and do just a good a job, if not better in a particular situations, that is something I've never played with before." Courville is joined by Nederland's Adam Broussard, Jude Vidrine, Aaron McFarland, Justin Richard, Ryan Sampere, PN-G's Eric Harrington, Austin Sangster, Mitch Todd, Jon Carnihan, JJ Garcia, Vidor's VJ Bunner, Taylor Robichau, Will Fontnow, LC-M's Ben Jones, Lumberton's Stephen McDonough and West Brook's Aaron Bender. MC's head coach Jimmy Collins said Courville will usually bat either third or fourth in the line up and, depending on the situation, will start at first base or left field. "He's a big, powerful hitter," Collins said. "Every time we take the field, we are counting on his power and we always expect big things from him and we know he is capable." Courville was selected to the 21-3A all-district team his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was also an all-state nominee this past season. As far as the players Courville did not know before this summer ball season, Collins said Courville could mesh well with anybody. "He is a team oriented guy." MC will meet Helena, Miss., today at 10 a.m. in El Dorado, Ark., for the first round of the Regional Tournament. If MC beats Mississippi, it will play at noon Saturday. The Regional is an eight-team, double-elimination tournament. The other six teams in the bracket include Camden, Ark., North Arkansas, South Arkansas, Union County, Ark. and Louisiana.
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