The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, our staff is excited for the upcoming spring season.  Players and coaches have been working all fall and through December, in preparation for the upcoming season and as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Louisiana.

Programs across the state have goals and aspirations to finish the year in Sulphur, LA at the LHSAA State Tournament, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes a reality.  We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams and players across the state, as we preview many of the great programs from Louisiana.  We will take you right up to the first pitch of this season with these team previews and we'll continue providing coverage throughout the spring. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season, as we strive to be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Louisiana.  Each week we will release our players of the week, as well as our Power 25 Rankings, which encompasses the top 25 teams in the state, regardless of class.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.  If you did not receive a questionnaire and would like to fill one out, please send an email to [email protected].

-High School Name: North Vermilion High School

-Coach’s Name: Jeremy Trahan

-Classification: Class 4A (Non-Select Division II)

-District: 4-4A

-No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4

-No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

-Team Strengths: Pitching and Defense

-Top Returning Players: 2023 SS/RHP Tyson Leblanc (LSU-Eunice commit), 2023 RHP Aiden Leonard (Northeast Texas Community College commit), 2023 3B Camden Breaux (Northeast Texas Community College commit), 2023 RHP Allen Johnson, 2023 OF Brandt Fontenot, 2023 RHP Cole Veronie

-Top 2023 Prospects: 2023 SS/RHP Tyson Leblanc (LSU-Eunice commit), 2023 RHP Aiden Leonard (Northeast Texas Community College commit), 2023 3B Camden Breaux (Northeast Texas Community College commit), 2023 RHP Allen Johnson, 2023 OF Brandt Fontenot, 2023 RHP Cole Veronie

-Top 2024 Prospects: 2024 C/2B Cody Breaux

-Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects: 2025 OF Jansen Deangelo, 2025 RHP/3B Isaac Russell, 2026 LHP/1B Blaze Duhon

 

 

Team Outlook

North Vermilion finished the 2022 season with an impressive 37-4 overall record, and fell just short of repeating as the LHSAA Class 4A State Champions, as they lost a thrilling on-run ball game to South Terrebonne HS in last year's final game.  Head Coach Jeremy Trahan has the Patriots program heading in the right direction, as they've compiled a 71-12 overall record over the last two seasons and they have no plans of slowing down in 2023.  Heading into this spring, pitching and defense will lead the way for the Patriots, as they return four seniors, who won a lot of games last season.  Senior Tyson Leblanc, a LSU-Eunice recruit, returns this season after compiling a 9-1 record in 2022 and will be one of the leaders of the staff again in 2023.  Fellow senior RHP Aiden Leonard returns as well.  The Northeast Texas CC recruit works his FB in the mid-80's, and went 9-0 last spring with a 0.95 ERA to go along with 110 K's to only 28 BB.  Senior RHP Allen Johnson was another successful arm last spring, as he went 8-1 on the year with a 1.67 ERA.  Lastly, senior RHP Cole Veronie returns as well, after going 5-1 last season with a 1.05 ERA.  Underclassmen to keep an eye on this spring, on the mound for the Patriots, include sophomore RHP Isaac Russell and freshman LHP Blaze Duhon.  Duhon, a long and projectable 6'4" southpaw, has already seen his FB creep into the low-80's with more in the tank and he also has very good command of all of his offerings for a freshman.  Offensively, there will be some newcomers to the lineup who will have to get accustomed to playing at the varsity level, but there are still some key pieces returning from last year's team to lead the way.  Leblanc hit a whopping .468 last season with 5 HR, 56 RBI, and 21 SB, and returns as the team's SS when he's not on the mound.  Breaux returns at 3B, after hitting .344 with 33 RBI and 24 SB in 2022.  Senior Brandt Fontenot hit .387 last spring with 45 RBI and returns in the outfield.  Look for sophomore Jansen Deangelo to also see playing time in the outfield.  Coach Trahan likes Deangelo's speed, as he is a 6.70 runner in the 60.  Behind the plate, junior Cody Breaux is back for another year of action and will also likely see some time in the infield for the Patriots as well.  The Patriots have made it to back to back State Championship games and nearly won back to back titles last spring.  There will be some guys, offensively, who will need to gain varsity experience, but Coach Trahan returns four senior arms who went a combined 31-3 last spring.  That is a lot of experience, at the most important position on the diamond, so it's safe to say that North Vermilion should be a favorite to make it back to the state tournament in 2023, with a chance to win their second state title in three years. 

 

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