Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

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Who will be in the running for the PreSeason No. 1 team in the Power 25 Rankings?
Although it is still October, the 2017 Spring season isn’t too far on the horizon. We have yet to begin the process of compiling the PreSeason Power 25 rankings, but we can take a brief look at a few teams from the five major points across the state that could land near the top of the PreSeason rankings.

+ Lake Charles, LA  (Barbe HS) It should come as no surprise to anyone, but Barbe should once again be in a position to take home another title. Currently the 3-time defending Class 5A state champion, the Bucs didn’t graduate a single everyday player, and will only have LHP Tyler Booth, a Southeastern Louisiana commit, to replace on the mound. McNeese State recruit, 2017 LHP Adam Goree, should once again lead the pitching staff for the Bucs, as he tries to take home his fourth title in four years. National Coach of the Year, Glenn Cecchini, should once again have an extremely athletic lineup with burners like, Kirkland Banks and Antonio Gauthier, setting the table at the top of the lineup stealing bases and putting pressure on defenses. Not only should the Bucs compete for a state title, but they could also be in the running for a national championship.  

+ Baton Rouge, LA (Catholic(BR) HS) Coming off a Class 5A semi-final appearance in 2016, I expect the Bears to continue to show they are a perennial power. Coach Brad Bass will have a huge hole to fill with the departure of SS Josh Smith (LSU), but the Bears have shown a track record of reloading quickly after losing key players in the past. Things will obviously be different now, come playoff time, with the split of the public and private schools. So anything can, and most likely will, happen in the loaded private school playoff division. Other To Watch: The Baton Rouge area this season will be a ton of fun to cover. 2017 OF Daniel Cabrera (LSU recruit) moved this Summer and enrolled at Parkview Baptist HS. Cabrera is one of the premium left-handed bats in the country and should attract significant attention from Major League Baseball this spring. St. Amant HS will undoubtedly see an influx of Major League scouts this spring, as 2017 RHP Blayne Enlow (LSU recruit) is getting major play on a national stage after his dominating summer with Team USA.

+ Lafayette, LA (Teurlings Catholic HS) The defending Class 4A state champions should once again be a force in 2017. They have serious firepower in the lineup with 2017 SS Hayden Cantrelle (ULL commit) and 2017 OF/1B Nick Webre (LSU commit). Coach Mike Thibodeaux and the Rebels like to play fast, putting pressure on defenses, and that most likely will not change this upcoming Spring. Although some key players have graduated, Teurlings Catholic is another program that has shown the ability to reload quickly. Others To Watch: Lafayette HS had an outstanding 2016 campaign that came up short, but the Lions return 2017 RHP/INF Bo Hardin and 2017 RHP/INF Miguel Reyes (LSU recruit) and should once again compete fiercely in district 3-5A.

+ Monroe/Shreveport, LA (West Monroe HS) A Class 5A power, West Monroe has an outstanding mix of young and veteran players that could prove a difficult out come playoff time. Led by LSU recruit, 2017 OF Jacob Pearson and Louisiana Tech recruit, 2017 INF Taylor Young, the Rebel lineup is dynamic. Add in 2018 C Slade Bolden, and  several other young prospects and they should be a fun team to watch this spring. 2017 RHP Austin Booth should lead the way on the mound, the unsigned right-hander was impressive at the North Louisiana Open with a mid-80s fastball, showing pitch-ability.

+ New Orleans, LA (John Curtis HS) Last year the Patriots surprised many people as they captured the Catholic League title in their first season playing baseball in the league. Although the Patriots lost Daniel Cabrera with his move to Baton Rouge, they add 2018 1B Cade Beloso (Tulane recruit) and 2018 RHP/SS Will Ripoll (LSU recruit) both of whom moved this past summer from Texas to River Ridge. In addition, 2018 OF Logan Stevens (Tulane recruit) also enrolled this past summer which will add depth to a lineup that returns 2018 INF Jordin LaBruzza, 2018 C Jay Curtis and 2018 INF/OF Brandon Davis. Ripoll and 2018 RHP Ian Landreneau will lead the way on the mound for the Patriots, as well as 2017 RHP/OF Austin Haensel (Southern commit). Others To Watch: Destrehan HS has a pair of highly touted 2018 right-handers, in Landon Marceaux (LSU recruit) and Bryce Scioneaux, that should make scoring runs against the Wildcats extremely difficult this season. Holy Cross HS had an outstanding summer in local Legion Baseball and the Tigers return the vast majority of their pitching staff from 2016. 2017 RHP Cyle Clayton (Nicholls State recruit) made a big jump over the summer, and could turn into a dominant ace come spring time.

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