Granger’s legacy will live on

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LSUE will honor No. 11 each season
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Ross Granger never threw a pitch for LSU Eunice, but he will forever be a Bengal.
“It is our responsibility to make sure his legacy lives on,” LSUE head coach Jeff Willis said. “We put his initals on the jersey and will dedicate his jersey No. 11 to a player that represents the qualities that Ross had.
“It is our opportunity to tell his story to each team,” the coach said. “We want our entire team t strive to be like Ross Granger.”
On April 10, 2015, Granger signed with the Bengals and then the 6-2, 180 pound left-hander then threw a no-hitter as Erath rolled to a 10-0 win over Fairview later that day.
“We had seen Ross play at Erath and summer ball with Team Louisiana,” Willis said. “As a left-hander pitcher he was able to throw three pitches for strikes which is a valuable commodity in college baseball.”
The valedictorian was also voted Most Likely to succeed by his classmates.
“He was a highly intelligent kid with a tremendous work ethic and character,” the coach said. “That is the kind of player you want to have on your team.
“He would have been the highest ACT stundent in the history of LSUE,” Willis said. “We were excited that he chose LSUE over other opportunties at Tulane and other high level academic institutions.”
Granger was just days away from starting his collegiate career with the Bengals before cancer ended his dream of playing college ball.
“He was pitching for his summer ball team and his velocity went down,” Willis said. “Then his motor functions went down and they discovered what was wrong.”
Granger was diagnosed with brain stem astrocytoma, but during his illness, Ross devoted as much of his free time as possible speaking to student athlete groups about the love of God and overcoming adversity.
His daily mantra was #WUPKAR: Wake up, Pray, Kick A**, Repeat.
“He fought the battle every day,” Willis said. “Ross visited several times and even spoke to our team.
“Last year, he was in our dugout at East Central (Mississippi) for our regional playoffs.
“He made an impact on us and his high school as well as the state,” Willis said.
“All through his illness, he always kept his faith and trust in God every single day.”
The 19-year old died on Nov. 11, 2016, as his former Bobcat football team beat Eunice High 49-20 in the Class 3-A playoffs.
He was buried on Nov. 14 in his LSUE baseball jersey.
“That was something he strived to do. get on the field wearing his Bengal uniform,” the coach said. “Now he will be in it for enternity.”
In Ross’ memory, the No. 11 jersey this season was assigned to sophomore Michael Claverie (Live Oak – Denham Springs).
“Michael is a tremendous student who works hard every day,” the coach said. “He is the first one to arrive, hours before any of his teammates.
“He represents everything that Ross represented,” Willis said. “I am proud to see what kind of season Michael is having because he deserves it.”
Claverie is second in NJCAA Division II with 60 hits, 51 RBI, and 109 total bases.
He is third nationally with 11 home runs and 45 runs scored.
Claverie leads the country with 16 hit by pitches.
“With the jersey also hanging in the dugout, we see it every game,” Willis said. “If a player has a bad game or a bad at-bat – what is your bad day compared to? We have to keep everything in perspective.”
Before his passing, Ross requested that a scholarship be awarded in his memory to a deserving student who exemplified and modeled strong faith, academics and athleticism.
The Ross Granger Memorial Fund will award up to fibr scholarships valued at $2000 each to deserving seniors.
The scolarships will divided: $1,000 will be offered for the fall, and $1,000 for the spring, upon providing proof of enrollment and passing grades. Students from the parishes of Vermilion, Iberia, Lafayette, Acadia, St. Landry and St. Martin are eligible to apply, as well as students enrolled in the Diocese of Lafayette Catholic high schools.