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: University Lab

Head Coach: Justin Morgan

Classification: Class 3A (Select D-III)

District: 6-3A

2023 Record: 24-11

2023 Playoff Finish: State Quarterfinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

Team Strengths: Leadership, Cohesiveness, & Experience

Top Returning Players: 2024 RHP Camden Sunstrom (Southern Miss signee), 2024 RHP/OF Cole Connor (Army signee), 2025 INF Jake McCann, 2025 INF Ethan Hopkins

Top Newcomers: 2024 OF Slade Jindal, 2024 OF/LHP Will Robinson, 2024 C Jaxon Simoneaux, 2024 1B/LHP John Maciasz, 2025 OF Caden Connor

 

Team Outlook

U-High finished last season with a 24-11 overall record and earned the #8 seed in the LHSAA Select D-III playoffs.  The Cubs had a first-round bye in the playoffs, before meeting up with #9 seed St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2nd round, winning the three-game series.  They then advanced to the quarterfinal round, where they met up with #1 seed St. Charles Catholic.  U-High lost the first game of the series by a score of 6-1, before winning game two by a score of 5-3, which set the stage for a decisive game three, with the winner advancing to the LHSAA state tournament.  Unfortunately, the Cubs lost the deciding game three by a score of 7-2, which ended their season.  Coach Justin Morgan and company are eager to get back on the field this spring and for good reason, as the Cubs return their top two arms in seniors Camden Sunstrom and Cole Connor.  Sunstrom has been awfully successful over the course of his high school career and last season was no different.  The Southern Mississippi recruit and former PBR Future Gamer, finished last year with a 7-1 record, 0.82 ERA, and a whopping 98 K's across 64 1/3 IP.  "Sunny" is an ultra-competitive strike-thrower with a mid-upper 80's heater that he can locate to all quadrants and his near "12-6" shaped mid-upper 70's CB is a true "out" pitch.  Connor has a loose and easy arm action with a FB that will touch 90 mph, to go along with a sweeping SL and late-fading CH.  The Army recruit finished last season with a 3.76 ERA and 48 K's across 40 2/3 IP.  He's also a returning starter in the outfield, after hitting at a .310 clip with 2 HR and 9 SB a season ago.  Senior southpaws Will Robinson and John Maciasz should also log meaningful innings for the Cubs this spring.  Maciasz could also see time at first base, in addition to his duties on the mound.  Offensively, U-High returns a pair of juniors in Jake McCann and Ethan Hopkins.  McCann is a "throwback" type of player, who is a tough out at the plate, and he proved that last year as a sophomore, after finishing the year with a .333 avg, 9 2B, and 25 RBI.  Hopkins is a physical right-handed hitter with some of the best power on the team.  He hit right at a .348 clip with 1 HR and 6 2B a season ago.  Look for senior Jaxon Simoneaux to make an impact this season behind the plate, as well as senior Slade Jindal and junior Caden Connor in the outfield.  Jindal is a really good runner who we've had as low as a 6.72 in the 60, and Connor is an athletic prospect with good bat-to-ball skills.  District 6-3A is a really competitive district, especially at the top with U-High, Parkview Baptist, and Doyle, who are all playoff contenders, year in and year out.  Although Coach Morgan will have some inexperienced guys to start the season, he really likes this year's team, especially because of their leadership and willingness to be challenged.  The Cubs have a tight-knit senior group that show up to the park everyday wanting to get better.  Couple that with the return of their top two arms and we feel that U-High will definitely be a contender in the LHSAA Select D-III playoffs this coming spring.

 

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