20 Years Later

Twenty years almost to the date, a group of 12 year old boys made Vermilion Parish proud by winning the 11 & 12-year-old Bambino World Series at Sellers Field in Abbeville.
The date was Aug. 19, 1995 when Abbeville beat Kokomo, Indiana 9-4 in the final game of the World Series. Hunter “Bud” Dubois hit a game-winning grand slam in the finals that sent more than 2,000 fans from around Acadiana into a mass celebration.
Abbeville did not lose a game in the World Series until the finals, when it lost to Kokomo, Indiana, 6-5 to force a second and final game.
To get to the finals, Abbeville had success by staying in the winner’s bracket and going 4-0 until the loss to Kokomo.
No other youth team from Vermilion Parish has ever accomplished what these 12-year-old all-stars accomplished that day. Today, they are all grown up with careers and family.
Many of them are 32 and 33 years old today. A majority of them all live within two hours of Abbeville.
On Saturday, a group of parents were able to get a handful of the players and the three coaches together for a reunion and to relive the glory days of 20 years ago. Video of the World Series played on a TV during the reunion, while there were scrap books and memorabilia on display.
Attending the get-together in Intracoastal City were Eric Toups, Chris Bertrand, Byron Dozier, Ryan Meaux, Steffan Primeaux, Kelly Richard Jr. and Hayden Neveaux. The three coaches Jesse Faulk, Darren Duhon and Buddy Cabrol also attended.
Part of the World Series Committee were also on hand Saturday. They were Tommy Picard, Irby Luquette and Bobby Neveaux.
The players not able to make it were Jason Duhon, Adam Davis, Elie Zenon, Matt Broussard, Bub Dubois, Ryan Landry and Kip Faulk.

Bertrand still plays baseball

Chris Bertrand, today, is one of the lucky ones who stills gets to play baseball 24-7. He is the head baseball coach at Division III University of Texas at Tyler. He is also married with two children.
“What we accomplished 20 years ago is cool, but how it shaped us is the seven-year-old son. He works for Techno Technology, a computer company in Lafayette.
Hayden Neaveaux remembers the hard work his father Bobby and other parents had to do to make the World Series a success.
“The entire World Series was such a great experience,” Neveaux added. “There was a lot of growing. You play baseball your entire life, and to see the fruits of all the parents labor come together. You see the field change. It goes from an old field to a World Series-class field in what seemed like almost over night. I saw my dad (Bobby) work hard. That is what I remember the most - all of the hard work.”

Babe Ruth title jumped started Primeaux

Steffan Primeaux became one of the most successful athletes at Vermilion Catholic and a lot of that had to do with having success in the World Series, he said.
“The World Series was a stepping stone in my sports career,” Primeaux said. “Babe Ruth got me going in the right direction.”
Primeaux, who played shortstop/pitcher in the World Series, today works in the oilfield, married and has a five-year-old son.
When asked if he thought his team, back then, had the talent to win the World Series, he said yes. “We knew each other well because we had been playing together since we were 7 and 8. All of the cards fell in our direction.”

Meaux remembers finals

“I remember that last game when Bud came up and hit the home run,” said Ryan Meaux. “I was on third base. It was a great feeling to know we won. We all worked hard for that feeling. We never gave up.”
Meaux realizes that the World Series victory is special. “It means a lot more now then it did then,” he said. It is more gratifying today because of the hard work put into it. So many people had faith in us. It is a good feeling.”
Meaux works for Eagle Pest Control and has a daughter.

Dozier says it was a team effort

Byron Dozier remembers the World Series as being a team and community effort.
“I remember the community coming out and supporting us,” Dozier said. “It was always a team effort. We all put in together. There was no ‘I.’ That is the same way we are all today. We look at each other as brothers. We worked hard from years before. We put in a lot of time with each other in the batting cage. We wanted to make sure we got things done.”
Dozier is a conductor on the railroad train in Acadiana. He has a set of twins.

Toups has not forgotten

Eric Toups still remembers the World Series like it was yesterday. When baseball season starts, Toups recalls when he played
“You remember the good old days,” he said. His biggest memory of the World Series that stays with him is that last play of the game - Dubois’ home run. Toups was playing right field when the final out was made. Everyone ran to the pitcher’s mound to celebrate.
“It was an unbelievable feeling. It is hard to wrap your mind around it,” he said.
Today, Toups is married and has 16-month old twins. He works for Cardiovascular Institute of the South, located in Lafayette. He is an ultrasound tech for the hospital.

20 short years, recalls Richard

Kelly Richard can recall the final out.
“It does not feel like it has been 20 years. It feels shorter than 20 years,” said Richard. “I remember winning and running up and going to get the trophy.”
Richard lives in Maurice and is married with two girls. He is a civil engineer and is licensed to practice in Louisiana and West Virginia.