Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

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Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will be posting high school team previews every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Airline
Preseason Rank: No. 12
2016 Record: 30-6
District: 1-5A
LHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Toby Todd
Playoff Run: Quarterfinals
2016 Final Rank: 9
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Cameron Parikh, RHP/IF, 2017 (Louisiana Tech)
Jonathon Brandon, IF, 2017
Chase Hodges, OF/RHP, 2017
Josh James, C, 2017
Dalton Burrell, RHP, 2019
Will Tynes, RHP/1B, 2020
Bryson Connell, RHP/IF, 2020
Cole Broadway, LHP/OF, 2020
Brayden Thompson, RHP, 2020

X-FACTOR
Louisiana Tech recruit, Cameron Parikh, returns for the Vikings in 2017. Parikh is a hyper-athletic middle infielder that will solidify the middle of the defense, as well as providing much needed depth on the mound. In addition the Vikings return their starting backstop, Josh James, who will help solidify the middle of the Airline defense.

OUTLOOK
The 2016 regular season saw great success from the Airline Vikings, as they rolled to an eye-opening 30 and 6 record. The magical ride of 2016 ended before the Vikings wanted it to, as they fell to bitter district rival, Byrd, in the best-of-three Quarterfinals. The return of four starters and two pitchers from last year’s club, led by Parikh, gives high expectations for the 2017 Airline Viking ballclub, as they look to defend their district 1-5A title, and take that next step towards a state championship.

BOTTOM LINE
Coach Toby Todd and the Airline program has consistently pumped out, not only quality teams, but also, quality college prospects over the last several years. The future looks bright for one of the premier programs in Louisiana, as they sport several talented young prospects, in addition to the already established upperclassmen. If history is any indicator, Coach Todd will have his club in the thick of the championship hunt; expect 2017 to be no different. Furthermore, expect the 2017 matchups with rival Byrd to be knockdown, drag-out brawls, as they fight over the 1-5A title, along with Evangel, Captain Shreve, Haughton, Parkway, and Southwood. District 1-5A is historically a deep and competitive league, 2017 appears to be no different.

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