Ernest Rodrigue
April 16, 2007
Antoinette Rodrigue
April 18, 2007
Chet Bourgeois is a senior second baseman for the Thibodaux Tigers baseball team. He hits in third in the lineup, and has a batting average of .710 in District 6-5A play this season. Currently, the Tigers are tied for first in district play with a 7-1 record.
SN: How long have you played baseball, and what got you interested in the sport?
CB: I’ve been playing for about 10 years. I pretty much learned and got into it myself.
SN: What goes into playing second base, that a casual fan might now know about?
CB: It’s a lot of things to worry. It’s not as much as the shortstop, but I like the position. If a groundball is hit to you, you can take your time and just make the play.
SN: Who is your favorite opponent to play against, and why?
CB: It would have to be H.L. Bourgeois, because they’re probably our biggest rival. Them or Central Lafourche. This year, it’s Central Lafourche.
SN: What’s your best memory of playing baseball here at Thibodaux?
CB: Going to the State Tournament in Lafayette last year. It was a good experience.
SN: How’d it feel getting so close to beating Rummel in the quarterfinals?
CB: It was a good experience, but it was rough that it didn’t end in our favor. It’s definitely something that keeps us hungry this season.
SN: When you’re at bat, what’s going through your mind as the pitch is on its way?
CB: Nothing. Just getting the pitch. I look for something that’s in the strike zone.
SN: What’s your favorite thing about baseball? What makes it your sport?
CB: You’re always doing something. You never get on your heels, you always have to do something.
SN: How would you describe this year’s Thibodaux baseball team?
CB: I love this team. It’s a bunch of my friends. We all went to the State Tournament last year, so everybody was able to share that experience. We know what we want to get to again this year.
SN: What’s something about coach Wayne Grenfell that only the team knows about?
CB: Coach Grenfell’s a good guy. He worries about all of us. He thinks of all of us as his own, like we’re all in one family. He takes care of all of us.
