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: Doyle

Head Coach: Tim Beatty

Classification: Class 3A (Non-Select D-III)

District: 6-3A

2023 Record: 27-9

2023 Playoff Finish: State Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Team Strengths: Pitching & Defense

Top Returning Players: 2024 OF/LHP Caiden Barcia, 2024 INF Dathan Cummings (Belhaven University commit), 2024 INF Cody Lovett (York College-Nebraska commit), 2024 INF Jace Ware, 2026 RHP Parker Taylor

Top Newcomers: 2024 RHP Conner Fairburn

 

Team Outlook

Doyle once again had a successful 2023 campaign finishing with a 27-9 overall record.  The Tigers made it back to the LHSAA state tournament as the #3 seed and upset #2 seed South Beauregard to advance to the state championship game, where they would face #5 Berwick.  The Panthers would end up beating Doyle in the state finals, by a score of 5-2, as the Tigers season ended with a state finals loss for the third consecutive year.  Head Coach Tim Beatty is eager to get going in 2024, as the Tigers return a good portion of their lineup and should once again have a strong pitching staff with a solid defense.  Replacing Peyton Woods (Southeastern Louisiana), their two-way star of year ago, won't be easy, but Coach Beatty believes that this year's group is up to the challenge.  One guy who comes to mind as a potential replacement is senior OF/LHP Caiden Barcia.  The uncommitted senior hit at a .368 clip with 35 RBI last season, while also posting a 5-1 record on the mound and a 2.46 ERA, to along with 95 K's across 57 IP.  Sophomore Parker Taylor figures to take on a larger role on the mound this season, after posting a 3-1 record with 3 saves last season, as a freshman, to along with a 2.82 ERA and 24 K's in 22 IP.  Coach Beatty is also expecting senior Conner Fairburn to step up on the mound for the Tigers this year as a shut-down reliever out of the bullpen.  Joining Barcia in leading the offensive attack will be seniors Dathan Cummings and Cody Lovett.  Dummings, a Belhaven University recruit, hit .375 last year with a .504 OBP and 30 RBI's.  Lovett, a York College-Nebraska recruit, finished last year with a .320 avg.  Senior Jace Ware is another veteran bat back that hit .310 last season.  Coach Beatty has built a consistent winner in Livingston, LA, and although they lost their star two-way player, they still have a lot back from a team that made the state title game a season ago.  Look for the Tigers to come out hungry and motivated this spring to make it back to the LHSAA state tournament, where they'll look to avenge their state title loss.

 

 

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