Courtland Posey traveled last week to Hobbs, N.M., and hit baseballs like Roy Hobbs.
As a result, the Xavier University of Louisiana outfielder was voted Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Week for March 13-19.
Posey, a senior from Clinton, Miss., produced these dazzling numbers in a three-game series at Southwest:
• .636 batting average (7-for-11).
• .692 on-base percentage (9-for-13).
• 1.727 slugging percentage — 19 total bases in 11 at-bats.
• Six of his seven hits went for extra bases — three doubles and three home runs.
• 10 RBIs and five runs.
Friday in a 14-2 victory, Posey tied the XULA second-era record for home runs in a game with two, and he became the second XULA player of the second era to drive in six runs in a road game. Second era refers to 2021-present; XULA did not play baseball from 1961-2020. There are no records from XULA’s first era in this sport.
Posey is XULA’s second baseball honoree this season. Left-hander Joseph Semien is a two-time RRAC Pitcher of the Week.
Roy Hobbs was a baseball prodigy and the protagonist of Bernard Malamud’s 1952 novel, “The Natural.” The book was made into a 1984 movie starring Robert Redford.
XULA’s Tuesday home doubleheader against Oakwood was postponed at the request of Oakwood. No makeup date has been determined. Next for the Gold Rush is a three-game RRAC home series March 31-April 1 against LSU-Alexandria at Wesley Barrow Stadium. XULA is 12-13 overall and 4-11 in the RRAC.