Terrebonne Booking Log – September 20, 2019
September 21, 2019
Lafourche Booking Log – September 21, 2019
September 22, 2019
If there’s an adult league softball game going on south of the Intracoastal in Lafourche Parish, it’s almost a certainty that Galliano native Ryan Pitre is there.
He’ll either be playing, umpiring or helping to make sure that everything stays organized and that everyone is having a good time.
If there’s a flag football game or a men’s league 5-on-5 basketball tournament, he’ll be there, too — likely doing the same thing.
Folks around the community applaud Pitre for the time he volunteers to organize adult league sports, while also recruiting players to stay active and compete.
His social media page is often filled with updates, either about field conditions, game schedules or whatever else to keep the engine humming.
But the truth is — this type of stuff has been in Ryan’s blood his whole life.
Pitre is an athletic lifer in the South Lafourche community.
As a kid, he always played sports — Biddy basketball, Bantam football, Youth baseball, whatever he could to stay active.
He got older and graduated to become a former multi-sport standout for the Tarpons (2002-05). After high school, he even spent a little time as a walk-on with the Nicholls State University men’s basketball team.
Now, Pitre is into his early 30s, but he stays active, volunteering his time in any way he can to help youth and adult-league sports in the community go off without a hitch.
Pitre has coached flag football, Biddy basketball and baseball.
All the while, he remains active playing in as many adult events as he can.
Houma native Lance Brien has played with Pitre for several years. He said he applauded Pitre for his commitment and dedication to the cause.
He also said he loved how Pitre was always willing to make teams, supply jerseys and do all of the little things that people don’t think about to keep people active and having a good time.
“He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had,” Brien said.
But perhaps the biggest chore Pitre is known for is his work with the South Lafourche High School Alumni Softball Tournament.
The Tarpons host the event every spring — a massive event with dozens of teams and which brings hundreds of locals together to generate thousands in revenue for the high school athletic department.
For years, Pitre has helped organize the event, communicating with captains of each graduating class, while creating brackets, collecting entry fees and helping make sure the event goes off without a hitch.
That’s a huge task that takes hundreds of hours of work without any form of payment at all.
His friends say they appreciate so much his effort, adding that it’s most admirable because his heart is always in the right place — our community.
“Ryan takes pride in managing all recreation activities in the Bayou Area,” life-long friend Pierce Pitre said. “He is most known for his organization of the SLHS Alumni Tournament. He is the face of the entire weekend and he does an amazing job.”
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By Casey Gisclair
