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Former North Delta baseball standout poised to become Canadians' next manager

Brent Lavallee has spent the past 15 years as a player and coach at Louisiana State University Shreveport
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North Delta native Brent Lavallee announced last month he was stepping down as head coach of the LSU Shreveport Pilots baseball team for a managerial role in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. That position is expected to be in Vancouver this coming season.

A North Delta baseball standout is poised to become the next manager of the Vancouver Canadians.

Brent Lavallee stepped down as head coach of the Louisiana State University Shreveport Pilots baseball program last month to take on a managerial position within the Blue Jays organization. It was reported last month by Niall O’Donohoe of the C’s Plus Baseball blog that Lavallee is headed to Nat Bailey Stadium for the 2020 season.

The former North Delta Blue jays standout spent 15 years the LSUS program — initially as a catcher on a scholarship then moving on to the coaching staff.

As a head coach, he compiled a 126-57 career record which included leading the Pilots to three consecutive NAIA Regional appearances, two Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament Championships in 2017 and 2019 and back-to-back RRAC Season Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Lavallee was also named the RRAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019.

During Lavallee's time at LSUS, he coached 20 - 1st Team All-Conference players, 7 - 2nd Team All-Conference players, three All-Americans, one1 RRAC Pitcher of the Year, one RRAC Player of Year, one Freshman of the Year, two Newcomers of the Year and five RRAC Gold Glove selections.

“This is obviously a great loss for us, but I am so excited for Brent and his family,” said LSUS athletic director Lucan Morgan. “Opportunities like this don't come around often and his hard work is paying off. 

“He has spent many years as a student-athlete and coach at LSUS and has meant a lot to the growth and development of this program. We thank him for his dedication and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

In a prepared statement Lavallee reflected on his life-changing experience in Shreveport and the opportunity ahead of him.

“For the past 15 years I have called Shreveport, Louisiana and LSU Shreveport as my home. When I was 17-year-old, I moved 3,000 miles from home to play baseball and since then I have seen my life transform before my eyes.

“I have attained two degrees, enjoyed successes and failures, met life-long friends, was introduced to my wife, got my first full-time coaching job, became a father to two wonderful children and achieved my dream of becoming a head coach. As I reflect I have aided many other young men to attain similar achievements in their own lives.

“Now I have a point in my life where it is time to turn the page and start a new chapter. I have accepted a managerial job within the Toronto Blue Jays organization. (They) have been absolutely incredible throughout the whole process, they have great vision for the future and I am extremely excited for the next step.

“I have never been more conflicted while attempting to make a decision such as this. I knew I loved LSUS and everything we have here, but I don’t think that I truly understood how much this program means to me.”