Alumni tourney hits 10th year

Time flies when you are having fun could apply to their annual tournament.
The Eunice High Alumni Association will celebrate its 10th annual softball tournament Aug.19-21.
“When it first started in 2007, I knew we had enough alumni to support it,” tournament chairman Tara Leblanc said. “I didn’t know how long it would last or how well it would go.
The first year there were 24 teams with the best years involving 42 teams.
“We are very happy with what has happened but of course you always want better,” she said. “We want more people involved because it benefits the school so much.”
Leblanc said the average has leveled off at 29-30 teams.
“We need participants because we make our money from registration,” she said. “The $25 from each player is important for us - we need each class to fill their dugout even if they don’t all play.
“Sign up and support their team.”
The minimum for each team is 10 players.
The rookie and minor leagues must have at least six males and four females.
The major league team rules require at least seven men and three women.
The division of the leagues begins with the Class of 2016 team and then moves up until the last group is seeded – usually 10 teams each in the lower two divisions.
The highest number of participants were 840 during the 2009 and 2010 tournaments, she said.
The association is very supportive of EHS academics and athletics, she said.
“We are donors for the Renaissance Pep Rally, Top Cat (the top student in each class), we give T-shirts to all those who perform well on their tests so academics is the biggest thing we give back to,” she said.
The association also holds the homecoming team sponsors a student for Girls State.
Leblanc said they also donate back to the baseball and softball teams as their players help run the tournament each year.
“They are the backbone of the tournament,” she said. “Without them, this would not happen.”
Leblanc said the older alumni may not play much any more but they are there supporting their children and grandchildren.
“It is a big homecoming for all the alumni to see other again,” she said. “It ends the summer and kicks off the new school year.”
Leblanc said any EHS group can get involved and benefit from the tournament.
The city also benefits with the large group of invading the resturants and other businesses, she said.
The sign-up deadline and captain’s meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 7 at the EHS library or cafeteria.
The tournament will be held at the Eunice Recreation Complex on Sittig Road.