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Seventeen year-old drummer Caleb Fitch will be graduating this year from Erath High School.
He began to have a passion for drumming around his 6th-grade year, but didn’t excel until he attended Erath. Since starting drumming, he has been in the honor band.
His first year at Erath High was for his 11th-grade year, and typically switching schools is never a good thing, but not with this drummer. After hearing negative words about his drumming abilities, Fitch used that as fuel and decided to get better and better, and since attending Erath High, he has.
“Before coming here to Erath High, I had people saying that I wasn’t a good drummer,” Fitch said. “That made me push more; even though I knew I was good at it, I had to get even better.”
He said that Erath welcomed him with open arms, and it gave him the confidence he has today.
“As a kid, my dreams were a little different, I mean, yeah, I loved to drum, but if I had to have a real job or a different job, I wanted to be in real estate,” he said. “Of course, I’d love to be a professional drummer, but I didn’t have the want to be a doctor or a lawyer; that wasn’t me.”
Booking gigs would be ideal and a dream for Fitch, but looking at the bigger picture, he has his eye on a goal.
“I actually have an academic scholarship and a band scholarship to Northwestern State University,” said Fitch. “I’ll be majoring in Computer Information Systems, that’s my go-to right now, but as for what’s next, I’m not sure yet.”
Even though he hasn’t made up his mind for a career goal, figuring out along the way is okay with him.
“It’ll be an interesting experience, and I’m happy that I get that opportunity,” he said.
Being a doctor or a lawyer wasn’t ‘him’, and being the only musically inclined member in his family can potentially open many doors for him, especially with what he has done and experienced thus far.
Having a whopping 12,000 views on one of his YouTube videos online, people could find another gem on his channel.
Fitch can also sing.
“It’s not something I do much, but my family loves to get me to sing during the holidays or in front of people,” he said. “But I’m a shy guy, and singing isn’t comfortable for me, but ask me to drum, that I can do.”
Having a supportive family means a lot to Fitch, and it’s something that he credits being content with his life decisions so far.
“I know that if I went on the road to pursue a music career, my family would be just as proud and root me on,” he said. “And it doesn’t stop at drums because if you put any percussion instrument in front of me, I’ll know what I’m doing.”
In fact, before the pandemic hit, he and his friends wanted to start a zydeco band. “You never know, I love music so much it’s not out of the question; not yet,” he said.
When COVID hit, Fitch said that his parents didn’t want him to stay idle at home. They didn’t want him to put his sticks down and be out of practice. That is when he started the YouTube channel.
“I didn’t think videos of me drumming would get so many good views,” he said. “Music and drumming to me is felt, so I like to Free-style more than I like to read music, so that’s what I do in my videos, I freestyle.”
“I also like teaching people,” he said. “At my previous schools, I was told I wasn’t good enough or good at all, and I don’t want others thinking that they aren’t, so I like to teach them.”
Once he moved to Erath High, he soared. “I’ve always made honor band, so I had to be good enough for that.”
Last year, Fitch made 1st chair Alternate All-State, which made him push even more to make it to 3rd chair this year. “Having supportive parents and a supportive school helped me push,” he said.
Fitch is no stranger to hard work, either. In his spare time, he is not only a private tutor, but he also helps his Godfather from time to time when he does lights and sounds for Hunter Hayes concerts.
“That is such a cool thing to help with, and it just makes you want to be on that stage,” Fitch said. “Maybe one day.”
Fitch also helps his dad on his shrimp boat from time to time.
Hobbies such as fishing, duck hunting, boar hunting and deer hunting keep Fitch busy when he isn’t studying, drumming or tutoring. He may very well be a jack of all trades, but whatever he does, he is confident he will make the right choice for that particular time.
“My 6-year-old little brother is the coolest, most awesome kid, and he looks up to me,” Fitch said. “He wants to be just like me, and that is a huge honor. I want him to be proud of me.”
Keeping a 3.5, and higher, GPA throughout the school has its benefits. Not only in scholarships but in his confidence.
“I just got invited to the Academic Banquet for school,” he said. “That’s the kind of example I want to leave with my brother and anyone who looks up to me.”

October 19, 1936 ~ May 14, 2021

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 PM on Monday, May 17, 2021, at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Ray Morvant, 84, who passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 14, 2021. He will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Lance Romero, Adam Magee, Andrew Morvant, Jonathan Morvant, Alexander Morvant, and Jake Morvant.
Ray was born on October 19, 1936, to Onedias Morvant and the former Nella Hebert in Milton, Louisiana, and grew up in a French-speaking household in Abbeville with his two brothers. He graduated high school at Abbeville High and the following year married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Marylin DeMarcy. Together they raised four children in Kaplan. In their 62 years of marriage Marylin and Ray had various business interests, including their State Farm Insurance Agency, which he started in 1962 and remained active in until his death. He served as a police juror for Vermilion Parish for 10 years and was active in local and state politics his entire life. He was also active in civic organizations, including the Jaycees and Rotary Club.
At an early age, Ray loved to sing and he loved country music, his favorites being Hank Williams and Ray Price. In 1960 he befriended Ray Price at one of Ray’s shows, and they remained lifelong friends until Price’s death. He often entertained them and their entire band at his home.
Later in life Ray developed an interest in knife making. He excelled at this hobby and many people were blessed to get one as a gift. This was something he really loved. He also loved making people laugh, and leaves behind a legacy of jokes and one-liners that many will remember.
Ray, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, will be forever missed by his loving children, Hank Morvant and his wife, Sena, Suzette and her husband, James Magee, Kelly Morvant and his wife, Dawn and Jason Morvant and his wife, Kristen; ten grandchildren, Lance, Adam, Andrew, Michelle, Caroline, Jonathan, Alexander, Jake, Gabrielle, and Kate; ten great grandchildren; one brother, James Morvant; and many sisters and brothers-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marylin; his parents, Onedias and Nella Morvant; and one brother, John Morvant.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Sunday, May 16, 2021 from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:30 PM; Monday, May 17, 2021 from 10:00 AM until 2:15 PM when the procession will depart for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Morvant family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Down by five runs with two outs, the North Vermilion Patriots somehow managed to find a way to win in the bottom of the eighth inning in the Class 4A semifinals.
The Patriots were down 10-5 with two outs. No one panicked. Instead they got back to back to back singles by Brandt Fontenot, Dylan Naquin and Jordan Blanchard to load the bases.
Cooper David hit a Two-RBI single to make it 10-7. Two more runs scored on a South Terrebonne error to make it 10-9.
Lane Patin had the game tying RBI with a double.
With the winning run on second base, NV head coach Jeremy Trahan put in a pinch hitter in the biggest moment of the game.
Trahan went with senior John Carter. Carter delivered in a big way with the game winning hit.
“I went with Carter because he is a senior,” Trahan said. “He has been pinch hitting for us all season.
“As a senior he came through.”
Carter had mentally prepared himself for the moment.
“I was trying to find a pitch to hit in the gap’” said Carter . “I was ready for when my number would be called.”
North Vermilion had 12 hits in the game. Lane Patin and Cooper David all collected multiple hits for North Vermilion. Patin led North Vermilion with three hits in five at bats.
With Thursday’s win, the Patriots advance to Saturday’s Class 4A title game. The Patriots will take on No. 1 Tioga at 6 p.m.

The No. 3 North Vermilion Patriots are playing in the LHSSA Class 4A semifinals this morning against No. 7 South Terrebonne.
The game gets underway at 10 a.m. in McMurry Park in Sulphur. It is on Field 40.
This is the first time the Patriots make the semifinals since 1995 and since 2009 for South Terrebonne.
The winner will play either Tioga (28-7) or Neville (22-15) in the championship game at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
South Terrebonne made it to the state semifinals twice before (1976 and 1980) but failed to make it to the championship game.
North Vermilion won the Class 2A state title in 1994 after beating Berwick but lost to Riverside in the Class 2A finals in 1995. They were coached by former NV head coach Brent Broussard and assistant coach Greg Theriot.
NV head coach Jeremy Trahan is coaching in his first semifinal game.
This will be the first time the Patriots play in McMurry Park.
No. 7 South Terrebonne Gators (20-9) enter the semifinals after upsetting No. 2 North DeSoto in the best of-3 quarterfinal series.
The Patriots (31-7) cruised by No. 5 Franklinton in two games.
In the playoffs, North Vermilion has won four out of five games. The Gators, won a first-round game on a forfeit and went on to win four straight games in the second and third round.
Both teams have had to win a three-game series in the second and third round to get to this point. In this morning’s semifinal game, it is one and done. In other words, if you lose, you go home. If you win, you play for the Class 4A state title.
This morning’s game should be a dandy.
Both teams are expected to start their aces.
South Terrebonne pitcher Brady Bowen could get the start. He has a 2.30 ERA with 73 strikeouts.
North Vermilion could throw either a right-hander or a left-hander.
Pitchers Tyson LeBlanc and John Nick Touchet are North Vermilion’s go-to arms. Both are expected to pitch in the semifinals and finals if the Patriots advance.
Tyson has pitched 49 2/3 innings and sports a 6-2 record this season. He has struck out 63, walked 11, allowed 46 hits and sports an ERA of 1.69.
John Nick, the lefty, has thrown 49 1/3 innings and sports a 10-0 record. He has struck out 67 batters, walked 36 and allowed 30 hits. He has an ERA of 0.99.