Before the fall prep sports season began, area football and volleyball coaches got their chance to meet with local media members to share information about their teams.
Before the winter sports season began, area boys and girls basketball coaches got to do the same.
Now with the start of the spring sports season, local baseball and softball coaches will converge on the Terrebonne General Healthy Lifestyles Center and Community Sports Institute in Houma at 6 p.m. Thursday for their meeting with local media.
Terrebonne General will host the event in the Healthy Lifestyles Center locker room as it did before the start of the fall and winter sports seasons.
Coaches will share season preview information, quotes, rosters and schedules with The Courier and the Daily Comet and other local media.
Director of Healthy Lifestyles Center and TGMC Community Sports Institute administrator Stan Gravois, a former teacher and coach, said the baseball and softball coaches showed plenty of interest in being part of the event.
“This time, we didn’t really start the ball rolling on this, the coaches did,” Gravois said. “A couple of them said, ‘Those guys did it. Are we up next?’ It worked so well for football, volleyball and basketball that it certainly can with baseball and softball. It will be nice to see what they all have in store for the upcoming season.”
South Terrebonne baseball coach Mike Barba said he is excited about the event and that it can help build excitement heading into the season. The Gators made the first round of the Class 4A playoffs last season.
“I think this is a great event for all the sports,” Barba said. “It gives fans and alumni from each school some insight on what they can expect on the upcoming seasons from coaching staffs. It also gives each coach a chance to build excitement for baseball in their area with the hopes of getting future players out to their games.”
Assumption softball coach Kirk Delatte, who guided the Lad Mustangs to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs last season, said the event is a great way to promote local schools and the sport of softball.
“We are always excited when we get to promote our team and Assumption High School,” Delatte said. “As our sport grows throughout the state we hope to one day get the exposure that other sports get. This event enables us to work toward doing just that.”
E.D. White Catholic softball coach Belynda Vinning, who guided the Lady Cardinals to the semifinals of the Division II playoffs and the state tourney last season, said the event will help kickoff what she hopes is another successful season.
“It was very exciting to make it to the state tournament for the first time in many years for our school,” Vinning said. “Progressing to the state semifinals was even better because it was a testament to the hard work that the girls put in, knowing that we could do well. We graduated eight seniors, seven of whom started, but we are looking forward to the young talent that we are seeing on the field to rebuild a strong, competitive team.”
Baseball and softball jamborees can be held Feb. 15-17 with the regular seasons set to begin on Feb. 19.
Gravois said the plan is to keep the media days going for football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball in the future and that it has been a positive for everyone involved.
“It’s more than just the coaches meeting the media that day,” Gravois said. “It gives them a little camaraderie. It’s more than just getting quotes, rosters and schedules. It’s a nice time for everyone to just sit there and chat and gives everyone a deeper understanding of what it takes for everyone to do their jobs.”