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: South Terrebonne High School

-Coach’s Name: Mike Barba

-Classification: Class 4A

-District: 7-4A

-No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7

-No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

-Team Strengths: Experience and Mental Toughness

-Top Returning Players: 2023 1B/OF/LHP Jackson Martin, 2023 OF/INF Henry Lirette, 2024 OF/INF Drew Pitre, 2024 1B/LHP Logan Mallard, 2024 OF Cole John, 2024 C Drake Detillier

-Top 2023 Prospects: 2023 1B/OF/LHP Jackson Martin, 2023 OF/INF Henry Lirette

-Top 2024 Prospects: 2024 OF/INF Drew Pitre, 2024 1B/LHP Logan Mallard, 2024 OF Cole John, 2024 C Drake Detillier

 

 

Team Outlook

One of the best high school baseball stories of 2022 was the journey of South Terrebonne High School.  The Gators entered the LHSAA Class 4A playoffs as the #18 seed, before knocking off Plaquemine in round 1, Neville in round 2, South Lafourche in round 3, and then, Lakeshore in the semifinals, which advanced them to the title game against defending champion North Vermilion, whom the Gators lost to in the semifinals of the 2021 playoffs.  In a back and forth game, in which Head Coach Mike Barba's group answered North Vermilion rallies in the 6th and 7th innings, the Gators ended up defeating the Patriots by a score of 7-6, to secure their first state title.  The coolest part of the story, is the resiliency that the Gators had to show after Hurricane Ida damaged the school in the fall of 2021, which forced South Terrebonne to play their entire season on the road.  The good news for Coach Barba and company is that they return the majority of their lineup from last year's team that made the magical run and that experience is invaluable.  Senior Jackson Martin returns this season and is expected to hit in the middle of the order, after setting the school record for homeruns last year.  Senior Henry Lirette is a gap to gap type of hitter who can run and should be a table-setter atop the Gators lineup.  Coach Barba also has a strong junior class heading into 2023.  Junior Drew Pitre is a scrappy, "throwback" style player that has really good bat to ball skills and a high baseball IQ.  Junior Logan Mallard is a physical 5'11" 270 lbs. left-handed hitter who should be a fixture in the middle of the order.  Junior Cole John is another competitive and hard-nosed player that gives the Gators a solid presence in the outfield, and lastly, junior Drake Detillier returns for his third consecutive year as the team's starting catcher.  Detillier is a physical player that still has upside and room for growth in his game.  South Terrebonne will compete in a very competitive district 7-4A that has three state champion teams from 2022 including the Gators, as well as Lutcher and Vandebilt Catholic.  The road back to the state tournament won't be easy for South Terrebonne, but some would've said that the journey to their first state title last year would be impossible, but not for Coach Barba and his group.  The Gators are a resilient bunch and as long as they keep that "chip" on their shoulder, they should be right in the thick of things this high school baseball season.

 

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