Sophomore catcher Sean Comeaux is the only member of the Colonels baseball team to receive a Southland Conference title ring.That’s because Comeaux is also the punter for the Colonels football team.
After playing football his freshman season, Comeaux was granted permission from head football coach Jay Thomas to give baseball a shot.
Comeaux played multiple sports in high school, so the decision was easy.
“In high school I was a three-sport athlete,” Comeaux said. “I wanted to play baseball my freshman year, but coach Thomas told me to wait a year.”
Being a two-sport athlete, Comeaux said he has felt added pressure to keep his grades up, but Thomas said that was part of the deal made between him and head baseball coach Chip Durham.
“One of the deals coach Durham and I cut was that if Sean kept his grades up, we’d allow him to play,” Thomas said. “He’s done that in the fall. We’re pulling for him, and we’re excited for him that he can help the baseball team out. Overall it seems like he’s done a very good job of handling both.”
Since baseball is in the heart of conference play, Comeaux has been unable to participate in spring drills. However, Comeaux still finds time to get his punting in.
“On my off-days I like to go work out a lot to keep myself in playing shape,” Comeaux said. “Even though I can’t play spring ball, I still go punt on Mondays.”
Comeaux wasn’t allowed to start practicing with the baseball team until his football duties were fulfilled.
Durham said it did set Comeaux back a little, but he’s handled the situation well.
“It affected him a little because once we got back, some of our other guys were a little more fine-tuned and ready to go,” Durham said. “It takes him a little while to get in that pattern, but there are guys that do it. It’s rare to find a guy who’s a two-sport athlete who is not a great athlete. That’s what makes him be in a situation where he can do that.”
For Comeaux the amounts of training put in for both football and baseball vary.
“I don’t run that much for football, but baseball I feel like I’m more in shape,” Comeaux said. “Training-wise, it’s a little bit different. Weight-wise, I use a little more weight in football than in baseball. It’s more trying to get your little muscles stronger in baseball while (in) football it’s about getting your bigger muscles stronger.”
One big part of Comeaux being able to succeed is the support he’s had from the people around him-especially his parents.
“He’s got great family support,” Thomas said. “That’s always critical for every athlete. They also understand that when you’re playing two sports, the academics are very important, and there is not much time for anything else. Academically that support has been there, and I know his parents have been there.”
Currently, Comeaux is batting .214 for the Colonels with one RBI as the backup catcher.
Durham said Comeaux is still young in his career and will develop as he gets older.
“He’s got good athletic ability,” Durham said. “He has a decent arm and swings the bat pretty good. As time goes on over the next couple years, he’s going to continue to develop into a better baseball player.”
Winning the Southland Conference in football was really exciting for Comeaux, and although he said he’s dreaming big, winning one in baseball would be a great accomplishment that no one else playing at Nicholls can experience.
After his career at Nicholls, Comeaux has a few options in mind.
“Playing-wise I’m not too sure yet,” Comeaux said. “After college I’m hoping to either get my degree which I’m going for now and go teach and coach. If I get lucky and get good enough where I get drafted in either sport then I’ll do that, but if not I’d like to coach high school or college sports.
