By Jeff Washburn

Jimmy DeBoy stuffed a lifetime of athletic joy into nine wonderfully action-packed years.

Big smile. Sweet baseball swing. Keen appreciation for that beautiful coupling of competition and friendship that is developed through sports experiences.

There are no words to explain why this intelligent, kind and talented young man was taken from his family, his teammates and his community in a tragic moment Wednesday afternoon along Ninth Street.

The courts will hand down justice. But for those who know the DeBoy family and feel their unfathomable grief, we find comfort knowing that Jimmy made Lafayette a better place.

Jimmy didn't just live life, he embraced it. He loved baseball. Loved playing for his dad, Mike, and watching his older brother, Ryan, develop into a rising young star. Jimmy was only a step or two behind.

On Sunday, the DeBoy family traveled to Chicago for the 19-inning marathon between the World Series champion White Sox and the 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

While most kids -- and many adults -- in the huge crowd lost interest or patience when the game eased into extra innings, Jimmy loved all six hours and 19 minutes of it.

"He kept telling me Joe Crede was going to win it for the White Sox with a home run," Mike DeBoy said Thursday night. "Jimmy had the right team, just not the right guy."

When Tadahito Iguchi's 19th-inning single won it for the White Sox, Jimmy was thrilled. Mike and Cathy DeBoy often said that among their five children, Jimmy was their coach in the making.

When Mike coached a Mustang League (9- and 10-year-olds) game, Jimmy never was far from dad's side.

If dad was seated on a bucket of baseballs at the edge of the dugout, Jimmy wanted to be close so that he understood the strategy.

Bunt. Hit and run. Delayed steal. Obviously, Jimmy learned well. There are Mustang League championship trophies in the DeBoys' dining room. And there's that bright red No. 51 All-Star jersey of which Jimmy could not have been prouder.

Jimmy adored Ichiro Suzuki and wore 51 in honor of the Seattle Mariners' fleet-footed, All-Star right fielder. He admired Ichiro's hustle and speed, qualities Jimmy possessed at the youth-league level. Like Ichiro, Jimmy was a tough out. If he hit the ball on the ground, chances were he would beat it out.

But this young man wasn't about batting averages or victories achieved by the 10-run lead rule. He was the product of two wonderful parents whose willingness to coach and give of their time to others made a lasting impression on their children.

Boys basketball. Girls basketball. Middle school track and field. Baseball.

You name it, and Jimmy's parents have coached it at the youth level, usually for nothing more than a small stipend and lots of satisfaction, knowing they helped a young person enhance his or her skills.

On Friday nights in the fall, Mike DeBoy officiates high school football. In the spring, he is behind the plate, umpiring countless high school baseball games.

But always, the DeBoys have made time for their children. Jimmy loved every minute of it, proud that his parents somehow found time for everyone.

At 9, Jimmy's understanding and appreciation were superior to many twice his age. He loved to compete. Loved his teammates. Loved being a member of the DeBoy family.

Frequently, I watch the James Lipton-hosted Inside The Actors' Studio TV show on Bravo.

At each interview's end, Lipton asks his guest a series of questions, including, "If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive?"

I'm almost certain Jimmy DeBoy's answer would be, "Your new baseball team is waiting for you. And, would you also coach it?"

Washburn is a Journal & Courier sportswriter. Contact him via e-mail at jwashburn@journalandcourier.com.