The dream continues

It took close to 15 years, but Daylon Ardoin’s dream to play beyond high school has come true.
The former Mamou standout athlete recently inked his name to a baseball scholarship to East Texas Baptist University.
Ardoin, who received first team All-District and All-Parish honors in 2019, decided on ETBU after mulling over several baseball offers from other schools, including Southern University Ecclesia College, Holmes Community College and Penn St.-York.
“It was incredible that so many schools were looking to add me to their roster,” stated Ardoin. “But, after everything was said and done, I just felt at home here. Coach (Jared) Hood is a great passionate guy and has a lot to offer in terms of teaching the game. I had gone to a camp here and really loved the atmosphere.”
Just to show how athletic the one time Demon is, Ardoin was also offered football scholarships to a few schools as well including Northwestern, Louisiana College, Mississippi College and Arkansas Baptist.
When asked what drove him to choose baseball over football, Ardoin answered in a very honest way.
“This might not be the best answer on paper, but it was the money,” Ardoin chuckled. “They offered me more here. I don’t really prefer one sport over the other. I’ve been playing both football and baseball for the same amount of time. I have a passion for both.”
Ardoin’s career began at the tender age of four when he joined the Dixie Youth league in Mamou. Ardoin played for that organization until he was 13. A natural player, Ardoin made all-stars every year he participated in the league.
“Playing baseball was just something that I picked up,” commented Ardoin. “Once I started playing, I knew that I loved it.”
Throughout his younger baseball career, Ardoin also played travel ball, hoping to hone his skills even farther. In seventh grade, the talented player joined the junior high squad.
That squad only lasted one year. But, because of his ability, Ardoin secured a spot on the high school team as an eighth grader.
Ardoin’s freshman year, he battled a Tommy John injury. During his sophomore season, Ardoin proved himself enough to grab a starting position with the varsity team.
From there Ardoin thrived, producing some pretty big numbers. In his final two seasons, Ardoin hit .451 with three doubles, three triples and two home runs. Ardoin produced 35 RBI and scored 40 times. He also stole 41 bases.
Two people that Ardoin gives a lot of credit to for his success is former players Dylan Duplechin and Kaden Serie.
As far as Duplechin is concerned Ardoin looks back with appreciation on the one year they played together for the Demons.
“Dylan was a big influence on my work ethic,” stated Ardoin. “He was an senior during my eighth grade year and we go out to the ballpark and put in some late nights practicing on our game. He really helped me in the mental part of the game. Even today, I can call him just to talk.”
Serie, a fellow teammate, was someone who could push Ardoin on a daily basis.
“Kaden and I competed against each other constantly, but not in a selfish way,” said Ardoin. “We just wanted the best for each other. Kaden someone that I went through everything with.”
One of the situations that both Ardoin and Serie faced the past few months was the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not getting to finish his senior year, Ardoin was more upset about not being able to play with the team he considered family.
“Honestly, I thought we were still going to play ball even after they first shut down school,” commented Ardoin. “It was sad to say that the last game I got to play with my brothers was a loss to St. Ed’s.”
With that behind him, the future is Ardoin’s main focus. After graduating from ETBU, Ardoin has plans that will take his life on a different path.
“My ultimate goal is maintain a minimum 3.5 average so that I can enter into the Air Force as an officer and hopefully become a pilot,” said Ardoin. “I want to do something that people can look up to. And, being in the military has a lot of benefits. It is going to allow me to take care of my family one day.”
As far as playing time on the field, Ardoin knows that only hard work will get him on the turf.
“It will be up to me to get the work in so that I can contribute to the team,” said Ardoin. “I am just anxious to get things started.”