Burchfield lauded for impact on players' lives

Cameras snapped and people eagerly waited to take their photo with the man with the worn black visor with the “B” stitched into it, a shirt emblazoned with “Berwick Athletics,” black shorts and black and white tennis shoes.
Someone with no idea of the situation at hand would swear he was a celebrity.
For anyone associated with the Berwick High School softball program, that would be exactly right.
Softball players from the past 24 years gathered at Berwick High School for a ceremony following the school’s District 9-3A championship contest against E.D. White Tuesday to honor Coach Lloyd Burchfield, a man that, while extremely tough on them, they respect immensely.
And soon, he will be will retiring at the end of the school year after a career in which he has recorded 502-279-10 record that included playoff appearances every year of his career.
In 24 years, his teams have made four quarterfinal appearances, six semifinal trips, one state runner-up in 2001 and he has won two state championships — in 1999 and 2003.
During Tuesday’s ceremony, representatives from the 1999 and 2003 state championship teams as well as his daughter, Sydney Jo Burchfield, spoke along with others, including Mayor Louis Ratcliff and St. Mary Parish School Board member Mike Taylor, who represents Berwick.
“Coach, playing with you was pure hell,” Mary Katherine Skiles, a member of the1999 title team, said to laughs. “The blood and the sweat and the tears, the wanting to die, being so incapacitated, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. You don’t just teach us about softball. You teach us that we can do anything in life. That the mind is stronger than the body, and I think everybody … can attest to that. You’re a legend in good ways and bad. I think you’re the only man that can get 200 girls to listen to him. … Thank you. I don’t think you realize what you do.”
Leah Peterson, who played on the 2003 title team, said, “Coach, you said (at) the end of state championship game when we won it, when we made everybody’s Berwick dream come true when we beat Teurlings Catholic, finally, …. You said, ‘Big time people make big-time plays in big-time games.’ But nobody talked about the big-time coach. So we’re all very thankful for everything you’ve done. You changed my life. You’re not just Berwick High’s best coach. To me, you’re the best coach I ever had.”
Sydney Jo Burchfield thanked her father for everything he’s done for the team.
Berwick Principal Buffy Fegenbush called Burchfield “forever the best coach Berwick High has ever had for softball.”
Burchfield, who recently informed Fegenbush he would be stepping down at year’s end, originally wanted the baseball job, which was not open.
He said he was told by then-Principal Cliff Watson that he had to coach the softball team until the baseball job opened, which he agreed to and began coaching in 1991.
“Guess what? The baseball job came open, and I didn’t want it no more, because, this is why,” he said referencing the large group of players behind him. “This is why I’m out here. When you coach girls, they become part of you. They’ll die for you, and they’re right. I put’ em through hell, but that’s the way it’s got to be. You have to push your athletes hard, and they responded well, also … It’s been a real pleasure to be involved in this program and to be your high school softball coach.”
E.D. White, who had defeated Berwick 7-6 in the game prior to the ceremony, stayed for the postgame event.
E.D. White coach Linda Sanders said she has known Burchfield since she moved to Thibodaux 10 years ago and competed against him as a coach.
“He’s (an) amazing man,” Sanders said. “These girls fight and play hard for him every pitch and every out.”
As for what awaits Burchfield after retirement, he mentioned fishing and golf.
“I haven’t done much of either one of those in a long time, and I got a lot to do around the house,” he said. “I got chores. I like to work around the house a little bit, so I’m not going to have any problem occupying my time.”
And don’t be surprised if he’s at a game next year, either.
“I’m sure I’m going to be there,” he said. “I’m sure I will.”