RESERVE — The last week has been anything but normal for Kerry Watkins.

While the St. John the Baptist Parish Director of Recreation should have been overseeing the final few weeks of the youth basketball leagues and ongoing registration for the upcoming baseball season, he has been a man of all trades.

Since the tornado hit the LaPlace area last week, Watkins has had to put aside fun and games for more important tasks, such as delivering ice and supplies throughout the parish, helping set up shelters and overseeing the various drop-off points for donations.

“It’s been crazy,” he said. “I’ve been all over the place in response mode.”

Yet Watkins is happy to report the games did go on over the weekend. A youth invitational basketball tournament was played as scheduled Saturday, albeit at East St. John High School instead of Regala Gym, which has been used as a staging area for volunteers. Another regional tournament is scheduled for this weekend, he said. That one should be played at Regala.

“We had full participation, I’m happy to say,” Watkins said. “All the teams showed up (Saturday).”

That’s good news for the area, which suffered a devastating blow from an F3 tornado that carved a 4.5-mile long and 200-yard wide path through several neighborhoods.

More than 300 homes and 50 businesses were damaged or destroyed and 9,200 were left without power, some until the weekend.

Now Watkins is beginning to turn his attention to baseball.

A meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday at Regala Gym for baseball coaches to discuss the new Babe Ruth League, rules and regulations. The department is still looking for volunteer coaches.

Registration continues through Thursday. Forms are available at sjbparish.com or can be picked up at the Parks and Recreation office located at Regala Gym, 200 Regala Park Road in Reserve. The office is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The registration fee is $15 per child.

Call 985-652-9569 for more information.