By ROBERT L. LEE

LUTCHER – Living in one town proud of its softball team, and having a daughter playing for another usually spells trouble for a fan, especially when the two teams come head to head. For St. Charles Catholic High School fan and graduate Jim Weber and his family, however, cheering for their Lady Comet daughter then returning home to Gramercy is not a big problem.

Weber, 38, said the move to the Gramercy area happened as a compromise, so the family could be between he and his wife Paula’s families, but Weber said he has never lost his Comet spirit. Although he is surrounded by Bulldog faithful fans, whenever he needs someone to talk Comets’ sports with, he makes his way back into LaPlace to see his parents’, who are also big fans of the blue and gold.

While it’s hard to catch every regular season game, the Friday games during the summer schedule offer him a chance to watch his step-daughter, Erin Luquette, and support the softball team.

“I haven’t had much spare time, other than on some Sundays when we practice. But it’s easy to come out here for four Fridays,” said Weber. “It’s been a good experience.”

It’s easy to tell sports run in the family. Weber played baseball through high school then opted to grab his dream by the horns and play in the LSU marching band. “That’s why everybody knows me as ‘Jimmy the drummer.'” His second daughter, seven-year-old Lauren, is also caught up in sports, in fact almost every sport.

“But she’ll probably excel in baseball,” he said. “She’s got a natural swing. Lauren’s in the seven and eight-year-olds and it’s her third year playing at Lutcher. She’s on two softball teams and a volleyball team too.”

But while sports is a staple, Weber encourages that academics, family and friends are top priorities.

“One of the biggest thing my wife and I preach to our daughters is this is where you make friends, the ones that you’ll remain friends with,” said Weber.

He said currently Erin, a sophomore next year, is a straight A student at St. Charles Catholic, and hopes one day she’ll get a scholarship to his other alma mater, LSU. As far as softball, she has been playing little league since she was six years old, leading the Webers to travel “up and down all of the River Parishes for games. There’s a lot of good support around here,” he continued. “I find just like the major leagues, girls sports are getting bigger and bigger.”