Area seniors ‘strut their stuff’ as college recruiters look on

After a long and grueling season, the Tri-parish’s brightest prep baseball seniors got one last time to shine on Saturday.

All-Stars from Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption and St. Mary parishes took part in the Friday Night Sports All-Star Classic at Nicholls’ Didier Field, marking the final time 43 players from the four parishes took the diamond as prep players.

“This game is such a unique experience for these kids,” said Vandebilt coach David Constant, who served as Terrebonne Parish’s head coach. “In the past, we haven’t had a whole lot of looks for our kids outside of the colleges in our area, so this is a great opportunity for them and I’m blessed to be a part of it.”

As Constant stated, the main purpose of the now second-annual game is to give the seniors an opportunity to strut their stuff to potential colleges who may be interested, or to test their skills against fellow collegiate-bound players.

“I like playing against guys, because I have a better idea of how I’ll fare in college, because all of the guys here are capable of playing at the next level,” said Vandebilt first baseman Vincent Distefano. “Every pitcher here is a great pitcher, so you definitely leave with a better idea how you’d fare.”

But at the same time, it also gives players an opportunity to merge one-day alliances with those they competed against throughout their careers. Classic rivals South Lafourche, Central Lafourche and Thibodaux all became one to join with E.D. White for Lafourche. Bitter foes Terrebonne and H.L. Bourgeois joined Ellender, Vandebilt and South Terrebonne on the Terrebonne Parish side. And Assumption, Berwick and Patterson made up the Assumption/St. Mary team.

“You’re coaching guys who have beat up on you all throughout the year,” said Thibodaux coach and Lafourche assistant coach Scott Abedie. “It’s always fun to see what drives other kids.”

Thibodaux All-Star Jacob Benoit agreed and said he “had a blast” teaming up with his foes from the season.

“We were rivals during the season, but now we’re coming together as a team to try and win this thing,” he said. “It’s just real fun.”

After a tough day in 90-degree heat, it was the Lafourche team who shined the brightest among all the stars on Saturday, earning victories against both the Terrebonne All-Stars and the Assumption/St. Mary All-Stars. Terrebonne and Assumption/St. Mary played to a tie in their game, making Lafourche the only team to earn a victory on the day.

The success serves as a total 180 from last year when Lafourche was swept in the event – a relief to Abedie and the other Lafourche staff.

“It’s funny, because we were just talking about how we’d need to make some coaching changes if we went 0-2 again this year,” Abedie said while laughing. “It was just fun to get a win for the kids.”

But winning and losing was purely the secondary focus of the event.

“That’s what this is – a fun event that gives players an opportunity to play with a bunch of guys they haven’t played with before and to compete with some guys that you’ve seen throughout the year,” said Assumption coach Daniel Manry. “I told our guys before the game that no matter what happens, just make sure you’re having fun.”

Players and coaches on all sides eased up from “regular season” mode and shared laugher amongst one another throughout the game.

Stories were told about all of the major battles fought throughout the region this season and ribbing was plentiful.

But when the pressure was on, the competitive edge took over for the players, making for three close ball games.

E.D. White pitcher Brogan Vice notched two saves for Lafourche on the day, mowing down the Terrebonne and Assumption/St. Mary All-Stars in the final inning to preserve the game.

Vice mopped up for Benoit and Central Lafourche starter Sage LeBlanc, who started the two games respectively.

“I mostly close the games at E.D. White,” Vice said. “But that was definitely the first time I had the opportunity to close two games in one day, so that was fun.”

Pitchers had a bit of trouble throughout the day because of the star-studded lineups run out by the teams.

In a typical varsity lineup a player can look for an easy out or two. That’s not the case in a game of the best of the best.

“There was no easy out,” Benoit said. “Everyone out there could hit.”

H.L. Bourgeois’ Jared Williams slides under the tag of South Lafourche catcher Tyler Danos to score a run. * Photo by CASEY GISCLAIR