When the Gulf Coast Bank 29ers, Abbeville’s American Legion team, hit the field this Saturday in the state tournament at M.L. Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette, Peter Broussard should figure prominently in what the 29ers do.

Broussard, 18, was a three-sport athlete during his time with the Erath Bobcats. He played basketball, baseball and ran track for the Bobcats until his graduation this year.

Broussard said he enjoyed his time at Erath High.

“It flew by,” he said. “There were many ups and downs, but it was worth it.”

Broussard has already begun his college days, taking a pre-calculus course this summer at UL, where he said he will major in chemical engineering, somewhat following in his father’s footsteps.

Peter Broussard, Jr., (Broussard’s father) went to UL as well. He does computer I.T. at Coastal Chemical in Abbeville.

Broussard said he learned a lot from his coaches at Erath, but specifically pointed to his time with Bobcats head baseball coach David Jordan.

“I hadn’t played my freshman year, so when he came in, it was fresh for both of us,” he said. “I had heard a lot of good stuff about him. So, I was eager to prove myself to him.”

Broussard was sidelined with a labrum tear in his throwing shoulder in his junior year. He had it surgically repaired and returned to the lineup in Erath mid-season his senior year, making solid contributions all season. Broussard pitched in relief in Erath’s 11-10, 3 1/2 hour marathon playoff win against Jewel Sumner this season.

“That was probably the best game I’ve ever been in,” said Broussard of that game, agreeing he will always remember it. “It was my first time pitching in a playoff game and with the injury still intact, even after surgery, it was scary. But, we had a real good defense so I didn’t have much to worry about.”

Broussard, who has seen limited time on the mound for the 29ers (three innings, one earned run, one walk, three strikeouts), plays center field for Abbeville, where he can utilize his speed to greatest effect.

At the plate in the regular season, he hit .261 in nine games for the 29ers. He had two doubles and five RBIs to go with four stolen bases and five runs scored.

Broussard said he is enjoying his time playing baseball in the American Legion and feels his team is plenty good enough to compete with last year’s state runner-up in Retif Oil.

“Coach Jordan always told me, ‘The game never changes,’” he said. “So, if we just keep the ball in front of us and do everything that we know how to do, it should be a good game.”

He also said he is excited to be playing the the Tigue, a field on which he has never before stepped foot, though he said there was a pretty steep learning curve with the fully artificial-turf field.

“To be honest, I don’t like the turf. It’s horrible for me,” he said. “But, now I know to slide feet first and not head first so I won’t slide over (the bag).”

Broussard will begin taking a full course load this semester at UL. For the time being, he remains at home with his father and mother, Glenda. He also has two five-year-old brothers, identical twins, Justin and Joshua.