Clams Look Up Lone Star State To Bolster Outfield
EDENTON, N.C. - The Steamers baseball club announces the signing of two red-shirt sophomore outfielders from the state of Texas.
Laurn Randell is a redshirt-sophomore outfielder, 6-1, 195 pounds, attending Texas State University, a member of the NCAA I Southland Conference; Randell's hometown is Austin, Texas.
Another burner for the Steamers outfield, Randell adeptly employs his speed both on offense, as a productive base stealer, and on defense, where he is a standout center fielder for the Texas State Bobcats. The right-handed batter also possesses good size and strength for extra base power, and with his quality plate discipline, could factor in at the top of the order for the 2008 Steamers.
Last summer, Randell competed with the Monterey Bay Sox of the California Collegiate League. He batted .268 and put up a .450 on-base average on the strength of 25 walks and an amazing 22 hit by pitches. Randell also slugged .408 with seven doubles, two triples, and three home runs. He made his presence felt on the basepaths, succeeding on 27-of-29 attempts. He was nearly flawless in center field, committing only one error all summer in 98 chances.
Randell is hitting mainly 3rd or 5th in the middle of the order and playing center field with the Bobcats this spring. Heading down the stretch and into the conference tournament, Texas State is 2nd in the Southland West Division, while their .540 winning percentage overall gives them the fourth-best mark currently in the conference. Randell's been an integral part of that, hitting .333-.443-.411 with 11 doubles, more walks than strikeouts (25-20), and leads the team in hit by pitches (12) and stolen bases (16-19).
R.J. Harris is a redshirt-sophomore outfielder, attending Northwood University (Texas), a member of the NAIA Red River Athletic Conference. He is a 6-1, 200 pound left-handed hitter from Fort Worth, Texas.
Harris spent the first two years of his career with the University of Texas-San Antonio before transferring to Northwood, resulting in a Red River title and a spot this past weekend in the NAIA Region VI competition. Harris chalked up RRAC tournament MVP honors by going 10-for-10 in consecutive wins over nationally-ranked Texas Wesleyan University, who then eliminated them in the regional. He is a quality gap hitter with a doubles stroke, solid plate discipline, and good instincts on the bases.
Competing last summer with the Wichita Falls Roughnecks in the Texas Collegiate League, Harris hit .327-.444-.455, highlighted by four triples, to go along with 21 bases on balls versus 23 strikeouts.
This spring, Harris was the starting right fielder, hitting throughout the middle of the order. He finished batting .331 with 18 2Bs, 24 bases on balls versus 28 strikeouts, and led the team with 20 steals though he was caught eight times. His doubles figure ranked 2nd in the Red River Athletic Conference, and steals total was 10th.
The Edenton Steamers are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its twelfth season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.
Contact:Christopher Bell
(252) 482-4080