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: Brother Martin

Head Coach: Jeff Lupo

Classification: Class 5A (Select D-I)

District: 9-5A

2023 Record: 22-10

2023 Playoff Finish: Lost in 2nd Round to C.E. Byrd

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

Team Strengths: Pitching Depth & Experience

Top Returning Players: 2024 OF Frank Randol, 2024 3B/1B Jack Lupo, 2025 SS/OF Ryan Darrah (Arizona State commit), 2025 LHP Patrick Laiche, 2025 C Egan Prather, 2025 RHP Cole Navarro, 2025 RHP Cole Heap

Top Newcomers: 2025 INF Stan Wiltz, 2026 RHP/INF Drake Amedee, 2026 RHP/INF Blake Tingstrom, 2026 OF Brady McCluskey, 2026 OF Luke Gab, 2026 INF Brody Shannon, 2026 RHP Nolan Amato

 

Team Outlook

Brother Martin finished last season with a 22-10 record and won the always tough District 9-5A title for the first time since 2019.  The Crusaders entered the LHSAA Select D-I playoffs as the #7 seed and ended up losing out to C.E. Byrd in the 2nd round.  The good news for Head Coach Jeff Lupo and company is that they return six starting position players and five pitchers from last year's team.  Senior Frank Randol is one of the best athletes on the entire team, as he posseses a good combination of size, power, and speed.  Fellow senior Jack Lupo returns again this year and should see time at both first base and third base.  The reigning Catholic League Hitter of the Year also returns this season in junior Ryan Darrah.  The Arizona State recruit was a member of our Future Games team this past summer, where he collected four hits in six at-bats, while also showing positional versatility on defense.  Behind the dish, the Crusaders are excited about the return of junior Egan Prather.  The uncommitted catcher is a solid defensive backstop who's recorded pop times just shy of 2.00.  There's a trio of freshman position players to keep an eye on as well in Brady McCluskey, Luke Gab, and Brody Shannon.  Coach Lupo told us that all three of them are athletic and powerful hitters.  The pitching staff should be really solid again in 2024, as there's a trio of junior prospects that the Crusaders will rely heavily upon.  Junior RHP Cole Navarro is a strike-thrower with a three-pitch that we liked at our State Games this past fall.  Navarro has a lean 6'1" 165 lbs. frame with wiry strength and projection still left.  Junior Patrick Laiche is your quintessential strike-throwing left-hander that won't overpower you with velocity, but pounds the zone with a solid mix of pitches.  Cole Heap is another junior who may have the most upside out of any of the arms on the staff.  The uncommitted junior has an uber-projectable 6'4" 180 lbs. with a loose & easy arm action.  The Catholic League is one of the deepest and most competitive leagues each year with the likes of Jesuit (defending State Champions), Rummel (defending State Runner-Up), and Holy Cross.  Brother Martin returns a solid core of players that includes a couple of upperclassmen mixed in with a strong junior class, so we fully expect the Crusaders to once again be contenders in 2024.

 

 

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