Junior outfielder hit. 507 to help Comets to yet another district championship in Class 3A

BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

LAPLACE-He may be the most talented all-around athlete in the area next season.

He concluded his junior campaign by being named to the Class 3A All-State first team by the Louisiana Sportswriters’ Association.

After one of the most impressive performances in school history, Robottom hit .507 to help put the Comets back into the state playoffs yet again and help St. Charles Catholic capture another district championship.

St. Charles Catholic Head Coach Paul Waguespack, who also was an assistant on the boy’s basketball team in which Robottom starred, said his junior outfielder is more than deserving of the prestigious honor.

“He really had a breakout year for us,” Waguespack said. “He was a more than deserving all-state selection. He also made the coach’s squad. He is definitely deserving.

“He really had a great year. He started off this summer going 3-3 in our first game, got a couple of hits on Thursday. He is probably 5-6 already this summer. He is just definitely a kid that can play all three sports (football, basketball and baseball). We know about his football exploits. He was the defensive MVP in basketball. He is just a tremendous athlete. He is really excelling at baseball.”

In addition to his very impressive career on the field, Waguespack said Robottom is just an overall great kid.

“He is just confident that he can get the job done,” Waguespack said. “He is just a great kid. He has done a great job for us.

“I’m excited about our summer team. We are starting off the season 2-0.”

Always the humblest of athletes, Robottom did admit he was excited to find out that he had made the All-State squad.

“It was a surprise to me,” Robottom said of the award. “I tried to put in a good year of baseball. I guess all the hard work really paid off.

“We had been looking in all the papers throughout the week because the post-season baseball awards were coming out. Then one morning my dad woke me up to give me the good news. It was very exciting.”

Never a player to put himself ahead of the team, Robottom did recognize that his phenomenal junior campaign could result in some individual awards.

“Maybe in the back of my mind I thought about it,” Robottom said. “After the type of year that I had I was just eager and anxious to see if I had made it or not.

“I did think it was possible after the type of year that I had. On the other All-State squads in the lower classifications, they only had a couple of .500 hitters and they all made it.”

The most frightening fact for opponents of St. Charles Catholic is that Robottom will be back for his senior season next year.

The soon-to-be senior said there are still several things that he could work on.

“I probably need to work on my arm strength,” Robottom said. “I hardly had any assists from the outfield last year. I just need to lift weights and get a little stronger.”