Former Trojan Fontenot has baseball jersey retired at SHS

Kaleb Jon Fontenot returned to Soileau-Landry Field at Sacred Heart School last Friday night to have his baseball jersey retired.
A former two-sport letterman with the Trojans took the field joined by his parents John and Bridget Fontenot, SHS head baseball coach Gary Ashford, and pastor Tom Voorhies. As Fontenot stood on the field, public address announcer Chris Bordelon read off the list of Fontenot’s accomplishments as a pitcher for the Trojans and the McNeese State University Cowboys.
At the end of the statement, Bordelon proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud and honored to officially retire Kaleb Jon Fontenot’s Trojan jersey No. 1.”
Going through the humbled mind of Fontenot was the time he spent on Soileau-Landry Field as a player.
“I was just thinking about all the good times I had on the football field through high school here at Sacred Heart and the people I’ve met,” he said while sitting in the bleachers during half time of the football game against Houma Christian.
While he took the field for the pre-game ceremony, Fontenot walked past the painted roof of the bathrooms that reads “Do or Die.” For Fontenot this Trojan motto signifies a sense of pride in what he does. For him it means to “go out and play every day and give it your all on the football field, baseball field, no matter what it is.” He continued, “You’re doing something so you might as well give it 100 percent.”
Fontenot will take that pride with him as he continues his career pitching for the Spokane Indians, which is the Class-A minor league affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Fontenot went 0-2 with a 4.17 ERA and 41 strikeouts as he appeared in 19 games and pitched 36.2 innings.
He says it “feels awesome” to be associated with former Ranger pitchers like Nolan Ryan and current ones like Colby Lewis. He also said, “It’s awesome to see those guys here and have the very educated baseball coaches there helping you throughout your path.”
This path has led Fontenot from Sacred Heart to McNeese where he became prepared for the atmosphere of professional baseball. He likened pitching in Spokane to pitching in the Southland Conference Tournament at Sugarland Field. “I think that helped me big time just with the atmosphere there,” he said. “It prepared me by learning to just calm down and pitch the ball.”
As Fontenot continues his path to pitching in the Major Leagues, he will take with him his unwavering faith that he learned at Sacred Heart. He calls this faith, “very important because without praying to God I don’t think you have that good foundation.”
Faith to him helps him along his path and getting through any struggles he may face. “But at the end of the day before you go to bed,” he says, “say your prayers and feel some relief.”