The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state.  Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Louisiana.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Sulphur, LA, home of the LHSAA State Championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality.  We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Louisiana.  We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, followed by our Power 25 Rankings release, and our popular Game of the Week segment. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the bayou state.  Each week, we will be releasing our players of the week, updating our Power 25 Rankings, and many more pieces of content.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School Name: Archbishop Hannan High School

Head Coach: Chris Garrett

Classification: Class 4A (Select D-II)

District: 8-4A

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

Team Strengths: Pitching

Top Returning Players: 2024 RHP Austin Pounds (LSU-Eunice commit), 2024 RHP Michael Maxwell (Millsaps College commit), 2025 RHP Owen Stempel, 2025 INF/OF Brody Smith, 2025 3B Reed Long, 2025 OF Sammy Loeb, 2025 RHP Nate Tardo

Top Newcomers: 2025 2B Michael Relle, 2025 OF Jay Lachney

 

Team Outlook

Archbishop Hannan enters the 2024 season with expectations at an all-time high.  According to Head Coach Chris Garrett, the Hawks have had a really good offseason and he told us that this year's group has a lot of "we" guys, as everyone is pulling in the same direction and competing for the goal of "winning the next pitch".  The main reason for so much optimism is because the team returns a veteran pitching staff made up of guys that Coach Garrett describes as "bulldogs, who are going to compete their tails off".  Senior Austin Pounds is a projectable right-hander that we really liked over the fall.  After attending our Senior Games and State Games, he ended up committing to LSU-Eunice, thanks to his projectable 6'3" frame combined with a mid-upper 80's heater.  Fellow senior Michael Maxwell was another guy who was at our Senior Games that ended up committing to Millsaps College shortly after.  Junior Owen Stempel is another talented right-hander for the Hawks, as he owns a low-mid 80's FB, to go along with feel for a CB and CH.  The Hawks will have to replace six out of their nine defensive starters from a season ago, but he really likes how the new guys are coming along this spring.  Look for Archbishop Hannan to make a run come district and playoff time this spring and if their offense can click at the right time, then they just might find themselves at the state tournament in May.  

 

 

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