Mansey R. Billiot
June 21, 2011
Eugene Valentine Sr.
June 23, 2011
New watered-down, college-style aluminum bats are ready to make their debut next year in high school baseball.
That might be the only thing right now that can stop the South Lafourche offense.
Through three weeks of Swampland action, the Golden Motors Bayou Boys the team that fosters the young Tarpons are slugging their way to the top-half of the standings.
Through three weeks of the season, the Bayou Boys have combined massive offense with timely pitching and defense to post a 6-2-1 record.
‘We feel good about the way we’re playing, said South Lafourche assistant coach and Bayou Boys head coach Lonnie Griffin. ‘I think that we’re looking good right now. I think we’re looking real good.
Where the Tarpons look the best is on offense.
Top-to-bottom, it doesn’t appear that there’s an easy out in the Bayou Boys’ batting order.
In last Tuesday’s win against Central Catholic, the future varsity Tarpons pounded out 21 runs and smacked four home runs and several more line drives pinged off Bayou Boy bats and smacked off the outfield fence.
‘That was unbelievable, Griffin said, still in awe of his team’s performance. ‘That’s a display of hitting. That’s exactly what that was that was a good display of hitting. It’s a lot of fun to be able to stand out there and coach third base, while watching those kids hit. We’ve done some incredible things before. But I can assure you that we’ve never done that.
Griffin and players both tout that the reason for the Bayou Boys’ offensive onslaught is a product of talent and also hard work.
With coaches having to share players with both basketball and football workouts over the summer, Griffin said time in the batting cages is about as organized as Swampland practices get.
‘Every chance we get, we’re in the cages, Griffin said. ‘In this league, you don’t get to work as much on the defense, because you play Monday, you play Tuesday, you play Thursday, all while having to split these athletes with two different sports.
‘Whenever I can get them in the cages, we’re trying to take 50-to-100 cuts a day. And it pays off. It definitely pays off.
Rising senior Hunter Alario added that those hitting sessions in the blistering heat are why the Bayou Boys are successful in the early stages of the summer season.
‘It’s just hard work, Alario said. ‘It’s all about coming in during our spare time and in our extra days and sometimes even on Sunday when we can to hit. It’s all about being dedicated enough to squeeze in some time.
Alario is one of the major culprits in the Bayou Boys’ powerful offensive attack.
Against Central Catholic, Alario hit two towering blasts over the left field fence, his first home runs at the high school level.
His first shot cleared the outfield fence easily, but he said he didn’t take anything for granted until he saw the ball clear the fence with his own eyes.
‘When I got to high school, it was like I had a curse or something, Alario said with a laugh. ‘I knew it felt good off the bat, but I didn’t know it’d be over. Once I heard everyone in the crowd scream when the ball left the bat, I kind of knew that I got enough to get it out.
‘But when I finally saw it over the fence with my own eyes, oh yeah, that felt terrific.
While Alario was getting the home run gorilla off his back, his teammate and fellow slugger Regan Dufrene was playing a game of Pepper with the outfield fence.
Dufrene hit one home run and had two other balls smack off the fence for doubles to secure what ended up being a four-hit night.
‘I thought I hit all three of them out, he said with a smirk. ‘I guess at the end of the day, you have to still be happy hitting one over and having two hit off the fence.
The myth behind the magic could be simple for Alario’s counterpart in the lineup.
‘I changed my contacts today, Dufrene joked. ‘That was my good luck charm today.
Going forward, it’s good to know Dufrene is seeing things clearly.
What stands ahead of the Bayou Boys appears to be a berth in the Swampland playoffs. Teams that go there usually have strong seasons the following prep campaign.
That sure sounds like a pretty picture to wrap your newly-focused eyes around heading into your senior year.
‘That makes us feel good, Dufrene said. ‘It lets us know that of all the teams that we’re going to play next year, we can beat anybody that we will play.
Golden Motors Bayou Boys pitcher Shawn Cheramie hurls a pitch during the team’s victory against Central Catholic. Timely pitching and defense, combined with dominant offense are the keys to the Bayou Boys’ 6-2-1 start. CASEY GISCLAIR
