By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — A few weeks into his senior season at Riverside, baseball standout Nick Delaneuville’s began to think his dream of playing college baseball could become a reality. 

And on the day he donned his Rebels uniform for the final time, those wheels were officially set in motion.

Delaneuville, nicknamed “Booda,” is headed to Baton Rouge after signing with Centenary College of Louisiana.

Delaneuville helped his Rebels team reach the state baseball tournament in two of the past three years.

“It’s something every child dreams of, to make it to the next level,” Delaneuville said. “And that’s what it is for me, a dream come true.”

Delaneuville, who played catcher at Riverside and has been recruited to do the same at Centenary, grabbed the attention of Centenary coaches during Riverside’s Class 2A semifinal game against Kinder. 

“They contacted me about two weeks after that game and told me they liked how I played, liked my character and intensity,” Delaneuville said. “I went on a visit and it went well. They’re giving me a shot to play college baseball and that’s something I’m thankful for.”

Delaneuville hit .284 with a home run, six doubles and 18 RBIs as a senior and became known for his strong defensive play behind the plate at catcher. 

Former Riverside coach Matt White — who has since moved on to East St. John — coached Delaneuville for the entirety of his career, 

White called Delaneuville a “student of the game” and said the senior impressed Centenary not only with his play during live play in the semifinal, but between innings.

“They said they clocked him at 1.94 seconds between the catch and the throw to second between innings,” White said. “Most high school guys are in that 2.10 area. They were impressed and I told them, ‘Coach, he can do better. That wasn’t his best.

“He’s a guy who is always in contact with the game of baseball. He’s always asking how to get better, how to make the team better. I wish I could coach a team full of Booda Delaneuvilles. He’s an outstanding player, teammate and leader.”

Delaneuville plans to major in communications at Centenary. 

He said that his time with the Rebels will not soon be forgotten, fondly recalling his team’s playoff loss to Evangel in his freshman season and the Rebels’ subsequent victory over the Eagles in the 2A semifinals a year later to advance to the state championship game.

Two years after that, Riverside began 3-9 before ending the season on a tear, finishing as a 2A semifinalist.

“We started real slow,” Delaneuville said. “It was bumpy at first, but we kept fighting and showed what we were capable of. I’ll never forget my time at Riverside or playing for coach Matt. He’s one of my favorite people ever, like a second dad to me.”