LDA to hold August softball tourney

Aluminum bats will be pinging for a good cause during the first weekend of August in Lockport.

The Lafourche Deputies Association will host their annual softball tournament from Aug 6-8 at the Lockport Baseball Park.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to benefit the LDA, and according to LDA president Jeff Bordelon, a good time will be in order for those who choose to participate.

“The excitement comes from not only getting the local law enforcement involved, but also the community involved and making a legacy of year after year raising money for a good cause,” Bordelon said.

Bordelon said the tournament is open to anyone wishing to participate. He said each year, the competition yields people from all across the state eager to spend a weekend on the softball diamond with their friends.

“If people want to come from as far as even another state, they’d be welcome,” the LDA president said. “From what I was told, leagues get involved in this, so we’re expecting people from people of different parishes and different areas.”

The majority of the folks playing in the event are expected to be general public. But Bordelon said for the first time the LDA will also be doing their best Derek Jeter or Chipper Jones impersonations during the weekend as well – even if the team will be comprised strictly of rookies.

In prior years, deputies were on teams with friends or family members in the public. But this year, the LDA will have its own squad.

“We came up with a team and we’re going to call ourselves the Executioners,” Bordelon said. “We’ve been practicing the last couple of days. Oh, it’s fun, because not counting myself, probably 80 percent of the other deputies have no idea how to play. It’s hilarious. We were playing in the field last night in Raceland after work, and we’d hit the ball, then miss the ball. We’d throw the ball, then miss the ball again … It was great.”

The weekend of softball will come at a good time for charity, and a sigh of relief during the dog days of summer for the always-challenged Sheriff’s Office deputies.

Bordelon said the purpose for making the deputy’s team will be to build camaraderie between he and his fellow coworkers who don’t get to spend as much time together as they’d like because of their demanding work schedules.

“That’s one of the exciting parts for me … getting together with my fellow deputies, as well as deputies from other departments, as well as the community,” Bordelon said. “Togetherness among me and my fellow officers, that’s exactly what I’m trying to build.”

It costs $175 to pre-register a team for the tournament. But teams can still register the day of the event with a $25 late fee.

The tournament will be held at the Lockport Baseball Fields on Columbus Street.

“My message to people interested is these three things,” Bordelon said. “One, please help the cause. Second would be come out, have some fun and get some exercise. Third, this will be a great opportunity for you to get out and meet plenty of people in your community.”