NEDERLAND — Branden Powell will be snapping off those lefty curveballs for Panola County College soon, while right-hander Matison Smith will be busy pitching in Jim Gilligan’s fall baseball program at Lamar University.

But for the next week, the two high school rivals will be swinging the sticks one last time for the Mid-County Senior Babe Ruth League All-Stars.

They are part of a 16-player Mid-County team that opens play Friday in the Babe Ruth League 16-18 World Series at Newark, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.

For sure, Smith, a graduate of Nederland High School, and Port Neches-Groves’ Powell will be counted on for their arms. They lead a deep and talented pitching staff.

But their bats have earned equal billing as the All-Stars have put together a 10-1 tournament record this summer.

“This is pretty much the last time I’ll get to bat, so I’ll take advantage,” says Smith, who starts at third base when not pitching, and bats cleanup for the All-Stars.

“When you get up to college level and you’re a good pitcher, you can get into trouble even for picking up a bat,” says Powell, the All-Stars’ leadoff hitter and starting outfielder when not pitching.

“So this is our last hurrah as batters.”

Smith doubled home the winning run in Mid-County’s World Series-clinching championship win over Wharton at the Southwest Regionals. It was his second game-winning double in four days and he was named MVP of that tournament, as he had been at the state tournament.

But Powell had pitched a 12-strikeout complete game early in the tourney and he had his share of big hits. He knocked in one run and got on base for the winning run to score in one game, had three hits in another game, and had a key sacrifice bunt in the championship game.

“I just go up there and whatever the situation calls for, I do,” Powell explained. “If nobody is on, I hit a little basehit and try to start something. If somebody’s on, I try to hit the gaps and drive people in.”

Both Powell and Smith won one game each in both the East Texas State tournament and the regional tourney.

“The biggest thing with both of them is the way they compete,” All-Star manager Jimmy Collins said earlier this week. “They both want the ball in any situation. I can ask either of them to pitch at any time and they’ll take the ball.”

Powell and Smith were both District 20-4A first-team all-district pitchers as seniors, leading their respective teams to the playoffs.

You’d think after so many years of playing baseball practically year-round they might want to take a break before heading off to college.