It was a special day Wednesday for Grant Fontenot’s family and the Bobcat nation as he signed to play baseball for the McNeese State Cowboys.
“This means a lot to me to be able to sign with McNeese,” Grant said. “I have worked since I was nine years old to get to this chance.
“This a great opportunity to live my dream.”
Fontenot said he liked the coaches and atmosphere at McNeese.
“It seemed to be a great fit for me,” he said.
Fontenot earned All-District and All-Parish honors last season.
He was named to the LBCA All-State team and was selected as a honorable mention LSWA All-State last season.
Fontenot had a .427 batting average last season with school records 56 hits and 131 at bats.
He recorded nine doubles, three triples and a home run with 27 RBI.
Fontenot also set the EHS single season record with 56 runs scored.
He walked 23 times and had 28 stolen bases on 32 attempts.
As a pitcher, Fontenot had a 6-6 record in 2019 with one save, pitching 66 innings for a 2.864 ERA.
Fontenot also played on the Juniors All-Star showcase last summer at Troy University.
I like the competitiveness of being a pitcher and being in control of the game.”
“He means a lot to our team,” EHS head baseball coach Scott Phillips said. “He is a solid pitcher and a good hitter,” the coach said. “Plus he is also a scholar athlete.
“He is a great young man to have in our program.”
Grant’s father Wayne is the head girls basketball and volleyball coach for Eunice High, but also an assistant baseball coach for the Bobcats.
“He has worked hard to develop a skill set to play at the next level,” Wayne said of his son. “He always has strived to be the best.
“We both had high expectations but coaching him was a pleasure,” the father said.
Younger brother Carson, 13, will be following in his mentor and idol footsteps when he joins the Bobcat baseball team next year.
“It was the reason I gave up coaching softball so I could coach my kid,” the elder Fontenot said.
“Time went by fast from those days playing catch in the yard.”
“It meant a lot to have my dad with me,” Grant said. “I’m glad he made the decision a few years ago to stop coaching softball so we could be together.”
For Fontenot, his wants his senior season to be one to remember.
“Last year we reached the quarterfinals,” he said. “I want to put the team on my back to get us to the state tournament.”
Last season, the No. 5 Bobcats rolled past Avoyelles (15-8) and North Vermilion (12-2, 6-2) before falling to No. 4 Berwick (12-2, 12-3) in the quarterfinals.