Shane Youman was grateful to have a large contingent of family members, friends and several of his former coaches at the New Iberia Senior High baseball diamond Saturday to see his jersey number retired by the school.

He just wishes his late mother and grandparents could’ve been around to take part in the ceremony also.

“Family, friends, teammates, coaches, it’s good to have a lot of people out here today,” Youman said after the ceremony between games at the NISH Tabasco Challenge baseball tournament. “I just wish my grandmother and grandfather and my mom could have shared it with me.”

Youman lettered for four years in baseball at NISH and was a member of the Yellow Jackets’ 1997 district championship basketball team. He went on to pitch at LSU, then pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2006-07), making his major league debut in 2006, and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.

After four seasons in the minor leagues, Youman joined the Lamigo Monkeys in Taiwan, and spent four seasons pitching in Korea after that.

Youman said he still “has the itch to play” but hasn’t received any offers to continue pitching this offseason.

“I’m pretty much moving closer to retirement,” Youman said, adding that if he doesn’t sign anywhere “I’m OK with hanging my cleats up.”

If he doesn’t play again, Youman said he will continue to help out at the Urban Youth Academy in Dallas, where he’s helped the past few years to mentor youngsters, share some sports knowledge and talk with them about both sports and life in general.

Both former NISH baseball coach Greg Boudreaux and former NISH basketball coach Russell Menard were among those attending, along with Robert Stutz, who Youman said was one of the first coaches to put him on the mound, Anderson Middle School coach Glenn Fondal and Youman’s former youth/American Legion coaches Zeke Elliott and Bud Cestia. Several of Youman’s former teammates also were there Saturday.

“I hope I’m not leaving anyone out,” Youman said.

Though he’d like to have pitched in the majors a little more, and had a longer career, Youman said he’s pretty satisfied with his pro career.

“I’ve been able to travel the world, just playing baseball,” Youman said.

He also was grateful to the NISH baseball program for retiring his number, noting he’s joining coaching legends Fay “T-Model” Thurman, who coached the Yellow Jackets to two state baseball championships in the 1970s, and Joe Jefferson, who led the Jackets to two state baseball titles in the 1980s, with retired NISH baseball jersey numbers.

“I really appreciate the support of the NISH baseball team, coach (Robby) Norris and his staff, and the community and all the people I played baseball with,” Youman said. “I just wish my mom and grandparents were here, but I know they’re looking down on me.”