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State Championship Recap

May 16, 2016


Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

Follow us on Twitter: @PBR_Louisiana

The high school season is officially complete. Seven state champions were crowned over the weekend has twenty-eight teams battled it out at McMurray Park in Sulphur, LA. Prep Baseball Report was in attendance and our scouting staff bounced around from game to game. Below are a few quick thoughts and observations from a scouting perspective.

The number 1 team in PBR’s Power 25 rankings, Teurlings Catholic, took home the class 4A state championship. 2017 outfielder and Louisiana State recruit, Nick Webre, was arguably the best hitter in the tournament. Webre consistently made hard contact in two games, which included a triple off the centerfield wall in the state championship, as well as a towering solo homer in the bottom of 6th inning to break a 4 to 4 tie in the semi-finals against Breaux Bridge. 2017 shortstop and Louisiana-Lafayette recruit, Hayden Cantrelle (Teurlings Catholic), showed advanced defensive ability with actions, fluid footwork and solid arm strength. The switch-hitter also showed a loose swing with bat speed from the left-side and added a big double in the state championship game. Unsigned 2016 infielder, Chaney Dodge (Teurlings Catholic), showed solid actions with athleticism and quality actions throughout the weekend. A right-handed hitter, he showed a compact stroke with bat speed and strength. 2016 RHP and Louisiana-Lafayette recruit, Josh Taylor (Teurlings Catholic) showed a solid mid-80s fastball and added a tight, sharp slider in the state championship game. 2016 catcher and Louisiana State-Eunice recruit, Austin Kirkpatrick (Teurlings Catholic), showed quality defensive ability throughout the weekend. He showed loose hips, advanced receiving ability, quick footwork and arm strength with a lean, projectable frame.

West Ouachita, the eventual runners-up in class 4A, were arguably playing as good of baseball as anyone in the state at the end of the season. 2016 INF/OF, and Louisiana State recruit, Zach Watson, set the pace for the Chiefs at the top of the lineup. Watson showed why some believe he could be the first high school player in Louisiana taken in the upcoming June draft. Although he was pitched around a good bit on the weekend, Watson collected several hits and put consistent quality swings on balls, as well as running consistent times to 1st base, with his best being a blazing 3.9 seconds. 2018 infielder, Luke Honeycutt (West Ouachita), also stood out for the Chiefs as an underclassman to watch. Standing a 5-foot-11 with a strong, physical frame, Honeycutt showed rhythm, fluidity and strength from a left-handed swing.

Perhaps one of the best high school programs in the country, Barbe high school, collected its ninth state championship, third in a row and fourth in five years. The Bucs are loaded with underclass talent, as they will only graduate two seniors, and zero everyday starters. 2018 infielder, Antonio Gauthier, set the table at the top of the order for the Bucs all year. A left-handed hitter, Gauthier shows a simple, compact stroke with bat speed and advanced barrel awareness, as well as elite level quickness and speed. Barbe will also return its ace next year, 2017 left-handed pitcher, Adam Goree, who threw 8 innings against perennial power Catholic(BR) in semi-final action, before the Bucs walked off the Bears in extra innings.

Collecting their first state championship (class 2A), St. Thomas Aquinas, was one of our favorite teams to watch this spring. To say the Falcons play fast may be an understatement, the term hyper-speed may be a more apt description. Often times getting pitches off in less than 10 seconds from the previous pitch, the Falcons consistently made oppponets uncomfortable throughout the year forcing a pace of play rarely seen at the high school level. Led by seniors Hunter Stanley, Reed Bolton, and Ryan Amerson the Falcons had a quality mix of veteran leadership and talented underclassmen. 2018 RHP Alex Egan, got the start in the state championship and worked with great tempo, a low to mid 80s fastball, and threw three pitches for strikes. 2018 infielder, Champ Artigues, showed quality actions on defensive and a short left-handed stroke, adding a big triple in the state championship game.

+ St. Charles Catholic shortstop, and Delgado recruit, Justin Ory, stood out as one of the better defenders in the entire tournament. Ory made numerous challenging plays, often making them look routine.

+ Northwestern State recruit, Tyler Thibodeaux (Breaux Bridge), showed quality catch and throw skills, and added a big double in semi-final action against Teurlings Catholic.

+ Claiborne Christian took home the class C state championship led by 2017 infielder, Griffith Olinde. Olinde showed advanced bat speed and strength at contact from his right-handed stroke.

Class 5A Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Barbe- 2
No. 4 Catholic- 1

No. 11 Byrd- 2
No. 15 Acadiana- 1

No. 1 Barbe- 5
No. 11 Byrd- 2

Class 4A Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Teulrings Catholic- 5
No. 5 Breaux Bridge- 4

No. 3 West Ouachita- 5
No. 2 St. Michael- 3

No. 1 Teurlings Catholic- 3
No. 3 West Ouachita- 2

Class 3A Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Brusly- 2
No. 4 South Beauregard- 4

No. 6 West Feliciana- 7
No. 2 ED White- 4

No. 4 South Beauregard- 2
No. 6 West Feliciana- 6

Class 2A Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas- 7
No. 5 Opelousas Catholic- 1

No. 6 Riverside- 0
No. 2 St. Charles Catholic- 3

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas- 3
No. 2 St. Charles Catholic- 1

Class 1A Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Central Catholic- 1
No. 5 Hanson- 0

No. 6 Vermilion Catholic- 4
No. 7 Oak Grove- 9

No. 1 Central Catholic- 8
No. 7 Oak Grove- 7

Class B Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Grace Christian- 5
No. 5 Anacoco- 1

No. 6 Fairview- 14
No. 2 Glenmora- 9

No. 1 Grace Christian- 3
No. 6 Fairview- 14

Class C Semi-Final/Final

No. 1 Elizabeth- 2
No. 4 Claiborne Christian- 4

No. 3 Simpson- 2
No. 2 Downsville- 4

No. 4 Claiborne Christian- 6
No. 2 Downsville- 2

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