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: Franklinton

Head Coach: Clay Tageant

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

District: 8-4A

2023 Record: 15-17

2023 Playoff Finish: Lost in 2nd Round to Assumption

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4

No. of Returning Pitchers: 7

Team Strengths: Starting Pitching & Offensive Speed/Base Running

Top Returning Players: 2024 RHP/INF Micah Wascom (Southern Miss signee), 2025 1B Elisha Hart, 2025 CF/LHP Rickeen Burkhalter, 2026 C Da'Ron Sinceno

Top Newcomers: 2027 INF/P Lavrenti Bailey

 

Team Outlook

Last year's Franklinton team finished the year with an overall record of 15-17 and made it to the 2nd round of the LHSAA Non-Select D-II playoffs, where their season ended at the hands of Assumption.  What last year's team accomplished was nothing to be ashamed about, especially because the Demons were without their top ace on the mound in senior Micah Wascom.  The Southern Miss recruit was recovering from a UCL surgery, but is back fully healthy now, and Coach Clay Tageant is expecting big things from Wascom and the team in general.  Wascom is one of the top right-handed hurlers in all of Louisiana with a FB that will reach the low-90's to go along with his power CB and CH.  His stuff is really good, but it's what Coach Tageant describes as his "bulldog mentality" on the mound that really gives opposing hitters fits.  He's the unquestioned leader of the team and as he goes, so will this Demons team.  The likely #2 on the mound will be freshman Lavrenti "TJ" Bailey, who is one of the more unique prospects in the state of Louisiana.  Bailey is an ambidextrous pitcher, who also switch hits.  Yes, you read that right; Bailey throws with both arms and hits from both sides of the plate.  Coach Tageant believes that he'll be the team's #2 on the mound as a LHP and the team's #3 on the mound as a RHP.  Offensively, Wascom will be the go-to guy as well, as he can hit for power and is a really good runner on the basepaths.  Bailey will also play an important role in the offense, as the likely leadoff hitter, in addition to his duties on the mound.  Junior 1B Elisha Hart will likely hit in the middle of the Demons order and is a realy home run threat, and junior CF Rickeen Burkhalter is a speedy left-handed hitter, who covers a ton of ground out in centerfield.  Sophomore Da'Ron Sincero will be the team's starting catcher and is an excellent receiver with a bule-collar work ethic behind the dish.  District 8-4A may be one of the more underrated districts in the state with the likes of Lakeshore, Pearl River, Archbishop Hannan, and Loranger all returning really solid clubs.  The Demons, however, have a true #1 in Wascom, who can match up with anyone in the entire state, so we fully expect Franklinton to make a much deeper run this coming spring.

 

 

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