By I.C. Murrell

ic.murrell@panews.com

NEDERLAND — Colby Price has played in many games at Metreyon-Delahoussaye Field, but few, if any, as big as the upcoming East Texas Senior Babe Ruth state tournament.

”It’s a fun experience, coming back and knowing what it’s like,” said the 2015 Nederland High graduate, who finished his first season at Panola College. “It’s fun to come back and tell the guys what it’s like and let them know what they’re up for. It’s a good experience. The most important thing is to have fun.”

Price helped the Mid-County All-Stars win the state title last year and reach the Southwest Regional final against Alabama. The outfielder is back for one last go at it, as Mid-County starts its title defense Friday with games against Del Rio and Eagle Pass.

“It’s the first step in a long journey that we want to take,” Mid-County league president and All-Star manager Jimmy Collins said. “Getting everbody here and everybody on the same page, the first one is always the toughest.”

Mid-County, Del Rio and Eagle Pass each will play four games — two on Friday and two on Saturday — with hopes of making Sunday’s championship round at the Nederland High field.

The Mid-County team has held a few practices since announcing its roster at the end of its league season, when none of the teams work out. But players like recent Port Arthur Memorial graduate Devaun Anderson have prepared themselves through a busy June of action.

“I saw a lot of good competition from some familiar faces,” said Anderson, an outfielder who plans to walk-on at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. “I knew some of the guys from the previous year on the select team.”

Collins, however, doesn’t value the all-star competition or league action more than the other.

“As president, I like them both,” he said. “This is fun from a managing and coaching standpoint. Seeing guys achieve who might not be as fortunate as others [in league play], I like that, too.”

Collins said the Mid-County team has several players who can compete at different positions and anywhere from eight to 10 pitchers, adding the team possesses good speed to go along with its versatility. It’ll be today or Thursday, though, when he finalizes his pitching lineup.

“I think we have a lot of good talent out here,” Price said. “We had a lot of good talent last year. We came two games short. We got to the championship game and had to double-dip them. But I think we have just as much good talent, if not more, than last year.”

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews