Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

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The Prep Baseball Report Louisiana scouting staff was in attendance Thursday for semi-final action, across multiple classifications, at McMurray Park in Sulphur, LA. The following will contain a few brief game, and scouting notes, as the scouting staff bounced around from field to field throughout the day.

Teurlings Catholic vs. St. Thomas More

The defending class 4A state champions, who now find themselves competing in division-II, Teurlings Catholic continue their winning ways in Sulphur, as the Rebels defeated area rival St. Thomas More 7-1.

2018 RHP Judson Judice (Teurlings Catholic) pitched a complete game for the Rebels, allowing only 1 run on 7 hits, while striking out 3.

Nicholls State recruit, 2017 C Kade Sonnier (Teurlings Catholic) showed a simple, direct right-handed stroke, making consistent hard contact throughout the game. Sonnier would finish 3-for-3 with 2 RBI.

Louisiana State recruit, 2017 OF Nick Webre (Teurlings Catholic) continued to show why he is one of the best hitters in the state of Louisiana. The left-handed hitter finished the day 2-for-4, showing bat speed, strength at contact, and an on-plane bat path. He also added 2 stolen bases on the day, showing off surprising speed.

2018 Hunter Bertrand (St. Thomas More) finished the day 2-for-3 for the Cougars, showing off a quality right-handed stroke. Bertrand has a lean, athletic 6-foot-3 frame with long levers that flashed potential power potential when he got the bat head out front.

John Curtis vs Rummel

The No. 1 seeded John Curtis Patriots continue their explosive offensive ways in semi-final action, defeating area, and district rival, Rummel 7-0.

2019 LHP/OF Dax Ford (John Curtis) was dominant on the mound for the Patriots, tossing a complete game shutout, allowing only 3 hits, while striking out 13 and walking 7. Ford sat 83-85 mph with his fastball and showed a solid breaking ball with 2/8 shape at 68-70 mph.

2018 IF Jordin LaBruzza (John Curtis) helped get the Patriots offense going in the 1^st inning, as he laced a double off the left field wall in his first at-bat of the game. LaBruzza finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

2018 SS Brandon Davis (John Curtis) finished the day 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and a scorching double into deep centerfield.

2020 C Jackson Dennies (Rummel), finished the day 1-for-3 for the Raiders, and showed quality defensive ability behind the dish giving consistent 2.1 pop times. A large 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame with a strong build, Dennies is an imposing fixture for his age.

Catholic(BR) vs. Holy Cross

The Division-I semi-final nightcap was an instant classic, as it took 10 innings for Catholic(BR) to defeat the No. 3 seed, Holy Cross. The Bears were in control for the majority of the contest, leading 3-0, but the Tigers erupting for 3 runs to tie the game. Holy Cross would finally push a run across in the top of the 10^th inning, taking a 4-3 lead, but Catholic would immediately answer back, eventually walking the Tigers off on a single from 2018 C Brennan Lambert (Catholic(BR)) in the bottom half of the 10^th inning.

2018 SS/RHP Alex Wiltz (Holy Cross) followed up his impressive quarter-finals relief effort for the Tigers, with another outing his team needed desperately. Wiltz entered the game in 5^th, and held the Bears to just 1 hit first 5 innings.

2018 C Brennan Lambert (Catholic(BR)) got the game-winning hit for the Bears, as we have already mentioned, but Lambert showed advanced receiving ability, stealing numerous strikes throughout the 10-inning contest for his pitching staff. Lambert also shows solid throwing ability with a quick transfer, giving a 2.08 in-game pop time.

2019 OF Chase Rouzano (Holy Cross) showed a quality left-handed stroke with advanced bat speed, lacing a backside double into the gap. Rouzano is an athletic outfielder with quick-twitch actions, and showed a quality throwing arm from the outfield during pre-game.

LSU-Eunice recruit, 2017 IF Cole Johnson (Catholic(BR)) was once again a spark plug atop the Bears lineup, a role of which it seems like he has been in for a decade. Johnson made consistent hard contact with his left-handed swing, using the entire field, and created havoc when on the base paths.

Nicholls State recruit, 2017 IF Will Ethridge (Catholic(BR)) was a steady force in the middle of the Bear order, showing a simple left-handed stroke with bat speed, and had consistent quality at-bats throughout the night.

PBR Mississippi scouting director, Ronald Sims, who will also be assisting with scouting in Louisiana, was on-hand Thursday for three other semi-final matchups.

Sims was on hand, as Ouachita Christian defeated St. Charles Catholic 7-1 in the Division-III semi-finals. As well, Sims saw South Beauregard defeat Berwick 6-1 in 3A semi-final action. Finally, Sims caught the nightcap in 3A, as Iowa defeated Brusly 12-0 to advance to Saturday’s state championship. The following are various reports on prospects that caught Sims’ attention.

Connor Manalo, Catcher, Brusly HS, 2017
Southeastern Louisiana recruit. Athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame long levers, room for physical growth. Right-handed hitter athletic and balanced setup, simple load shifting weight, consistent pre-swing rhythm. Short path to ball, connected with head at contact with a middle of the field approach. Defensively moved athletically behind plate, with quality arm strength, throwing 1.97 in between innings.

Tyler Theriot, OF/LHP, Brusly, 2018
Nicholls State recruit. Long 6-foot-3, 180-pound athletic frame. Left-handed pitcher started from tall athletic, balanced setup, starts with front side closed off. Rushed down hill, with good stride distance down mound, landing square with in-line direction. High-3/4 release, easy arm action, not much effort. Finishes balance and athletically square to the plate. Fastball sat 79-81 mph, natural lefty run. Breaking ball showed 2/8 shape with developing spin, solid depth, and occasional deception.

Jansen Fontenot, OF, South Beauregard, 2018
Louisiana-Lafayette recruit. Athletic 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Right-handed hitter, start with open stance, consistent pre-swing rhythm, big leg lift load landing balanced and on time. Showed looseness in hands, short path and solid bat speed. Ran well, 4.1 second in game home to first time.

Cameron Wiley, RHP, Berwick, 2018
LSU-Eunice recruit. Long, skinny 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. Right-handed pitcher, quick, clean, easy arm action, from high-3/4 release. Loads front hip well, smooth delivery, good stride down mound, even shoulders, in-line direction, finished balanced and slightly to first base side. Fastball sat 85-87 mph, around zone. Slider was 75 mph with late action. Breaking ball sat 66-68 with 11/5 shape, with good depth and developing spin.

Logan Savoy, LHP/1B, South Beauregard, 2018
Louisiana-Lafayette recruit. Thick 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Left-handed pitcher, short, quick arm action, with a fastball velocity of 78-81. Breaking ball at 61-63 mph with loose, developing spin. Left-handed hitter showed simple quite approach with leg lift, landing balanced, short path with slight up-hill plane.

Loyd Nash, OF, St. Charles Catholic, 2018
Long, athletic, 6-foot, 165-pound frame. Left-handed hitter athletic setup, mechanically quiet and simple, fluid load, maintains rhythm. Solid bat speed, consistently on time, with short, compact, easy swing, with developing strength. Maintains balance throughout swing, Loose, athletic hands with gap-to-gap ability.

Clint Hargrave, Catcher, Ouachita Christian, 2019
Lean 6-foot, 170-pound frame, strong build. Athletic defender, soft hands, presents good target, clean and quick transfer with short arm action, into high-3/4 release. Consistent 2.0-2.1 pop time in between innings. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, leg lift, solid bat speed and fluid rhythm. Laced hard single to left and added a double to right center.

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