Bobcat duo heads to next level

Image
Body

For the past four years they have been together on the football and baseball fields, but after graduation they are heading in different directions.
Austin Phillips is heading to LSU Eunice to play baseball, while Tyler Darbonne plans to be a tight end for the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
Austin, the son of EHS head baseball coach Scott and Lauri Phillips, said he is thrilled to be part of the Bengal baseball team.
“It is the home town team,” Phillips said of the Bengals, “but I love their winning tradition and I want be a part of that.
“I want to compete for a national championship.”
LSUE has won six NJCAA Division II titles including last season.
So far this season, Phillips leads the Bobcats with a .407 batting average and 23 RBI.
Phillips has 18 singles, five doubles, a triple with 21 walks.
He has also has 13 steals on 15 attempts so far this season.
For his career, Phillips has a .369 batting average.
He also holds the school record with 34 walks.
In 2017, Phillips was named to the 4-1A All-District and All-St. Landry Parish teams.
Last season, he earned all-district, all-parish and all-region honors as a utility player.
Phillips has been invited to participate in the LHSCA All-Star game at Pineville in May.
“I am choked up thinking about it as he will be walking out of these doors soon,” dad Scott said. “It was a lot of fun to coach Austin.
“There was pressure on him, but he did a fine job for us all four years as a Bobcat.
“As a dad, I was blessed to be able to coach him.”
Phillips said he is ready to watch his son play as a fan not as the head coach.
“He earned his own way to be apart of the LSUE program – now he will be part of the best baseball team at that level in the country.
“There is no other placewhere I’d want my kid to start his college career.”
Tyler, son of Nikki and Kevin Darbonne said he is ready to step up to the next level at Monroe.
“I fell in love with the culture and the campus,” Darbonne said. “It’s a great place.”
Darbonne said winning the Class 3-A state football championship helped motivate him all school year.
His senior season with the Bobcats, Darbonne had 14 receptions for 187 yards.
On defense, he had 31 tackles including six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
In the 59-47 win over Sterlington in the state title game, Darbonne finished with three touchdown catches including two from running back Avrey Lee.
His career as a tight end will continue with the Warhawks and Darbonne said he is ready to contribute to the team.
“You will get the ball in certain situations but you also have to be ready to block,” Darbonne said. “As a tight end you can’t be selfish – you have to be willing to block for your teammates.”
As the first baseman for the Bobcats this spring, Darbonne has a .349 batting average and 22 RBI.
Darbonne has been a four-year starter and has earned All-District and All-Parish three times.
He earned All-Acadiana, All-Region and All-State honors his junior season as he also broke the school record with 10 triples.
“Tyler is one of the finest kids to go through our program.” Eunice High head football coach Paul Trosclair said. “He has been a great teammate, and a great performer on the field - he is what high school football is all about.
“His career plans are to be in the medical profession,” Trosclair added. “I know that any patient Tyer has will be a lucky patient.”