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: Dunham

Head Coach: Wes Theriot

Classification: Class 2A (Select D-III)

District: 6-2A

2023 Record: 22-14

2023 Playoff Finish: State Semifinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7

No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

Team Strengths: Experience & Depth

Top Returning Players: 2024 3B/CF Drew Bourgeois, 2024 LF Houston Theriot, 2024 2B Easton Romano (Centenary College commit), 2024 C/1B Sione Albert, 2024 RHP Clay Pecue, 2025 SS/CF Josh Lim (UL-Lafayette commit), 2025 RF Gabe Greene, 2025 SS/RHP William Nikolaus, 2025 LHP Jace Crane, 2026 RHP Logan Sorrel

Top Newcomers: 2024 LHP/1B Cooper Sirk (Belhaven University commit), 2024 RHP Jackson Pixley, 2024 C Ben Barton, 2024 RHP Louis Phillips, 2026 RHP Tyler Sotile, 2027 SS/RHP Kaden Mayers

 

Team Outlook

Dunham finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 22-14 and entered the LHSAA Select D-III playoffs as the #4 seed.  The Tigers earned a first-round bye, before beating #20 seed D'Arbonne Woods in the second round.   They then met up with rival Parkview Baptist in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, and after losing the first game of the three-game series, the Tigers ended up taking the next two games, to advance to the LHSAA state tournament.  Their season would unfortunately end in the semifinals at the hands of #1 seed St. Charles, who ended up winning the State Title.  Head Coach Wes Theriot is really excited about this year's team, especially because of the experience and depth that they return from last season, as the Tigers bring back six starting position players and all of their front-line arms.  Leading the way on offense will be senior Drew Bourgeois, who Coach Theriot describes as a "top of the lineup disruptor with plus speed".  Bourgeois finished last season hitting at a .358 clip with a .496 OBP, while scoring 45 runs.  Senior Houston Theriot is back in left field for another season and is one of the tougher at-bats in the Tigers lineup.  Senior Easton Romano was injured most of last season, but is back healthy again for 2024.  The Centenary College recruit is a high-level defender with good bat-to-ball skills.  Senior Sione Albert hit right at .295 last season and is a physical, middle of the order type of bat with power.  Senior Ben Barton will provide depth behind the dish for Dunahm this spring and is a really good catch and throw guy.  Junior Josh Lim has started since his freshman year and is a switch-hitter with really good instincts, plus speed, and can impact the game in a variety of ways.  Junior William Nikolaus returns on the infield as well, and is a quality defender and a tough out at the plate.  Junior Gabe Greene is one of the more "toolsy" prospects in the Dunham lineup with really good speed and gap to gap power.  A young guy to keep an eye on is freshman Kaden Mayers, who is a physical athlete with a sweet left-handed swing.  He'll provide depth on the infield and on the mound as well.  As mentioned above, Dunham returns all of their front-line pitchers from last season, which includes one of the top pitching prospects in the state, in sophomore Logan Sorrel.  The 6'3" 190 lbs. right-handed hurler racked up 55 K's across 44 IP last season, as a freshman, thanks to a 87-90 mph FB and a wipeout 78-81 mph SL.  Sorrel is currently the top ranked right-handed pitcher in the state's 2026 class and will be a hot commodity to see for college recruiters this spring.  Senior RHP Clay Pecue will end his career as a four-year starter and is an ultra-competitive strike-thrower who commands the baseball extremely well.  Junior Jace Crane is a crafty southpaw with a solid three-pitch mix, who returns back to the staff, after logging 31 2/3 IP a season ago.  Senior Cooper Sirk was injured last season, but is another southpaw who is back healthy and will log quality innings for the Tigers this spring.  The Belhaven University recruit commands a low-80's FB that pairs well with a late-fading CH.  Senior RHP Jackson Pixley has big-game experience and is another veteran presence on this year's pitching staff, as is Senior Louis Phillips, who is a physical right-handed pitcher with a mid-80's FB and solid breaking ball.  Sophomore RHP Tyler Sotile is another guy to keep an eye on, as he owns a low-mid 80's FB with plus-command of all three of his pitches.  Coach Theriot told us that the "injury bug" has bitten the Tigers over the last three seasons, so staying healthy will be imperative this year.  The Tigers return two key pieces this season, who were injured last year, in senior LHP Cooper Sirk and senior 2B Easton Romano, which will help to stabilize the pitching rotation and the middle of the Dunham defense.  The expectations for this year's Dunham team are the same as they always are, which is to practice and play with focus and intent, compete with confidence, unselfishness, and excitement.  If the Tigers do these things, then Coach Theriot believes that they will have the opportunity to win every game that they play.  We like the Tigers chances this season, due to the depth of their pitching staff and the returning position players, who should all improve on their numbers from last year, which is why we expect Dunham to be a LHSAA Select D-III State Title contender this spring.  

 

Follow on Twitter: @PBR_Louisiana
Follow on Instagram: @PBR_Louisiana

 

+ Click HERE to create a free profile.

+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site. 

 
Related Content: