Mike Courchene has had a long road to Varsity at Alamo Heights, from Kingwood, Texas to Beverly, Massachusetts, and then finally to San Antonio. If at any time in the game anyone needed to get pumped up, Courchene was always there. A quick look in the dugout would always include Courchene with a smile on his face, and most likely smiles on the faces of everyone around him.
Before school, Courchene sat down to talk with me about his life in baseball and to answer some fun “rapid-fire” questions.
When did you start playing baseball?
I started a little later than what a lot of people did. I started when I was about eight or nine. I was interested in other sports when I was younger. I was more interested in soccer and basketball because my dad played college basketball, so I was a lot more interested in that than baseball at the time. The first level I played baseball was coach-pitch. It was different because it was in Kingwood, a suburb outside of Houston, and I’ve never really heard of a coach-pitch anywhere else.
When did you make Varsity?
At my former school I was on Varsity my sophomore year. At Alamo Heights I didn’t make it until my senior year.
Where did you play at before Alamo Heights?
I moved here from Beverly, Massachusetts, so this was at Beverly High School.
What has been your favorite memory with Alamo Heights baseball?
I really think watching them go to State last year. I thought that was really cool because I still got to practice with all them, and it was a cool experience just seeing all the preparation pay off and the process working.
What is your next step after high school?
I’m going the University of Texas to do a CAP program, and hopefully by my sophomore year I will be fully attending UT Austin.
Is it weird to think you won’t play baseball for the first time in so long?
Yeah, having a lot of free time will be a little weird. The only sport I did play once I was ten was baseball, so it’s always been fall ball, winter practices, spring ball, and then summer ball. It’s been awhile since I’ve had more than a two week break from baseball.
You always have to be ready at a moment’s notice. What is that like?
In a lot of ways it’s just staying within the game. It’s always good to stay loose and be hanging out with your buddies in the dugout, but you always have to stay focused because if you don’t it’s easy for the game to sneak up on you and the next thing you know Coach Thompson says, “Get in,” and you’re out there
You always seem to be having fun in the dugout, whether it’s dancing to walk-up songs or pumping people up. How do you maintain that mindset during a game?
I think it just helps because as Coach has said a lot, you need to understand a role that you have. One of my roles is being in the dugout and being someone that is energetic. Me and Jeremy Wasson really try to stay within ourselves, and we understand our role, so we try to pump everyone up.
Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
The only pregame ritual I really have is with Jeremy, and we tape our wrists before every game. There’s no superstition really behind it, it just became a thing of, it looks cool and why not?
What’s your go to song before a game?
Mostly anything that’s rap. I have a good playlist with some throwback Drake, Migos, and just any new rap. I’m really big on putting playlists together, so I usually have one that I listen to before a game. My walk-up song is “Razzle Dazzle,” by Future. I chose it because it was clean and it’s a good song.
Who is your favorite sports team?
Definitely the Boston Red Sox. My dad is originally from Boston and I lived there for four years. I probably went to about 30 games, and the atmosphere is completely different. I’ve been to Astros games, I’ve been to a couple A’s games while I was in California visiting, and the atmosphere at Fenway Park is completely different.
A lot of people go to you, but who do you go to if you need a laugh in the dugout or at practice?
Normally it’s either James Tyng or Jeremy Wasson, I’m just really good friends with them even outside of baseball, so it helps. Sometimes you do need to go outside the game a little to calm your nerves, so that’s who I go to.
What are some of your hobbies outside of baseball?
I like hanging out with friends, working and watching a lot of sports
What’s your dream job?
My dream job would have to be grounds crew for the Boston Red Sox because I had a cousin that did that and it was awesome. He made an actual living off that, and you get to go to every Red Sox game, and even now he has the jackets and can just walk in to the games.
Is that something you’ll pursue in college?
No, in college I’m going into advertising because it does interest me. Where I used to go to school we had an organization called DECA, and it was like a marketing competition, and I would pursue marketing, but it’s a lot easier to get into communication school than the business school at UT.
If you could invent anything to make baseball easier what would it be?
Trackers on the baseball so you could go get more foul balls.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
I have to go with a young Matthew McConaughey. He’s a really cool dude and a really good actor. I’ve seen him in a lot of good roles, and if he had to do me, he could do it.
Name three people you would invite to your dream dinner party. What would you eat?
Migos, the whole rap group Migos. We’d eat Waffle House. I’d have a fried steak, and then whatever they order. We’d order a bunch of stuff and eat off each other’s plates.
What do you do in San Antonio that there’s no Waffle House?
Go to IHOP? You have to find the next best thing.
If you were stranded on an island with one person, who would you choose and why?
I have to go with my dad, because in many ways he’s pretty smart in a bunch of aspects that I’m not, and he’s someone I’d feel comfortable with stranded on island. I know he’s got my back.
If you had to tell the world one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I’m a hard-worker.