2021 Team Preview - St. Thomas Aquinas
February 5, 2021
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Classification: LHSAA 2A (District 10)
Head Coach: Cole Catalano
Team Strengths: Offense, Team Speed, Team Culture
Team Weaknesses: Some Inexperience
Top Returning Players
-2021 Casey Artigues (Southern Miss Signee)
-2021 Jaden Collura (Nicholls State Signee)
-2022 OF Dane Watts
Names to Know (2022 Class)
Names to Know (2023 Class)
-2023 RHP/ INF Bryce Simoneaux
Team Summary
St. Thomas Aquinas has seen a ton of success over the past few years, as the Falcons are a regular in the Class 2A playoffs, and won the 2016 Class 2A State Title. That 2016 team was led by guys like Alex Egan and Champ Artigues. Funny enough, there is another Artigues who looks to be one of the leaders of the Falcons this season in Senior Casey Artigues, Champ's younger brother. Casey is a Souhtern Miss signee and is the #19 player overall in the 2021 state rankings. Artigues is a "throwback" style of player. Gritty, hard nosed, left handed hitter who uses the whole field and is a really good runner as well. We look for him to be the catalyst atop the St. Thomas Aquinas lineup this spring. Senior Jaden Collura, a Nicholls State signee, is the #5 ranked catcher in the state rankings, and should find himself somewhere in the middle of the order. Juniors Dane Watts and Jordan Trapani will also have key roles in the Falcons lineup with Coach Catalano saying of Trapani, "Kid can flat out hit. He's a very versatile player and a tough kid as well." On the mound, Junior Layton Pittman looks to be the guy the Falcons will turn to for big games. Pittman is a 5'11" 185 lbs. framed RHP who Coach Catalano is very excited to watch this spring, as he's made some strides over the fall and should continue to trend up this spring. Junior Logan Pierre should help the club with his bat and on the mound. Sophomore Blaine Colona will be another guy to watch on the mound, as the projectable RHP has made some good strides this fall as well and should log innings this spring. District 10-2A probably isn't discussed enough around the state. Doyle has their fair share of talented players with guys like Peyton Woods (Texas A&M Commit), as well as Springfield with RHP Blake Lobell (2020 Future Games Participant). The Falcons lineup looks to be a dynamic one with really no holes. Guys on the mound, in particular, younger guys will have to gain experience and get up to speed quick as we move closer to the season. Coach Catalano told us he is not worried though, as this 2021 club has great team culture and lives by the motto, "Next Guy Up". Coming off of a shortened 2020 season that may be the best motto to live by, as teams will have to have versatile lineups and be able to play multiple guys at each position. Once the experience on the mound develops over the course of the first half of the season, we expect the Falcons to catch fire at the right time and make some noise in Class 2A.