Mike Barba of South Terrebonne baseball wins Houma area male coach of the year
Mike Barba never got the chance to win a state championship as a South Terrebonne baseball player.
He made it to the state quarterfinals as a senior in 2009 but that was the farthest he would get.
Now Barba, South Terrebonne’s baseball coach since 2016, finally got to hoist up the LHSAA state championship after his team pulled off a 7-6 win over North Vermilion during the Class 4A state championship game in Sulphur on May 15. He was named the Best of Bayou Preps male coach of the year presented by The Courier and Daily Comet.
It was the first state title in South Terrebonne’s baseball history. The team overcame many adversities this season after Hurricane Ida damaged its school campus and baseball complex in Bourg.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: South Terrebonne overcomes obstacles to win first baseball championship
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: South Terrebonne baseball reflects on Hurricane Ida, wants to win LHSAA state title for community
As a No. 15 seed, South Terrebonne beat No. 2 Neville and No. 7 South Lafourche on the road along with No. 6 Lakeshore and No. 1 North Vermilion at the LHSAA tournament. He also credited assistant coaches Simon Badeaux and Mark Orgeron for their work with the team.
“This year, we said that our was not going to end with an L, and it didn’t,” Barba said. “Whatever powers that were at be this season with these guys, their heart and their determination. …God, they deserve this so much. I am so glad that they will forever be remembered.”
Reach Chris Singleton at 985-857-2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com and on Twitter @courierchris.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Mike Barba is Houma area male coach of year: South Terrebonne baseball
