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: John Curtis
Preseason Rank: No. 5
2016 Record: 21-8
District: 9-5A
LHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Jeff Curtis
Playoff Run: 1^st Round
2016 Final Rank: 19
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Cade Beloso, 1B, 2018 (Tulane)
Austin Haensel, P/UTL, 2017 (Southern)
Jay Curtis, C/3B, 2018
Brandon Davis, IF, 2018
Jordin Labruzza, IF, 2018
Ian Landreneau, RHP, 2018
Dax Ford, OF/LHP, 2019
Alex Michel, IF, 2019
Collin Guggenheim, UTL, 2020
Choncee Crum, UTL, 2020
Shane Goins, OF, 2020
*Will Ripoll, UTL, 2018 (Louisiana State)
*Logan Stevens, OF, 2018 (Tulane)
Landon Gambill, IF, 2018

X-FACTOR
A new addition to the John Curtis program is Tulane recruit, 2018 1B Cade Beloso. Originally from New Orleans, Beloso’s family was relocated to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. Over the summer, the family made the move back to the city and enrolled at John Curtis, giving the Patriots an impact left-handed bat to place in the middle of the order. Beloso exploded on to the recruiting scene this past summer, garnering interest from major programs, as he showed to be one of the better left-handed hitters in the region. Ultimately, new Tulane head coach Travis Jewett landed Beloso a few weeks into his tenure in New Orleans. Pairing with Beloso in the middle of the order will be 2018 C Jay Curtis. Curtis had an oustanding sophomore spring and doubled down on it during the summer, showing big power potential against some of the best arms the region has to offer. The power combination of Beloso and Curtis will be a luxury not afforded to many high school programs this upcoming spring.

OUTLOOK
In addition to Beloso and Curtis, the Patriots return several veterans that surprised the New Orleans area in 2016, as they took home the Catholic League title in their first season in the competitive district. 2018 RHP Ian Landreneau returns on the mound after a highly successful sophomore campaign. 2018 IF Jordin LaBruzza returns as well, helping to solidify the Curtis infield and middle of order, alongside fellow 2018 IF Brandon Davis. Davis is a projectable middle infielder that has turned some heads this offseason, if he continues his upward trend, he could add firepower to an already potent Patriot lineup. Southern recruit, 2017 RHP/OF Austin Haensel, also returns for Curtis, adding to the talented John Curtis pitching staff.

BOTTOM LINE
Although the Patriots were hoping to get Louisiana State recruit, 2018 UTL Will Ripoll, and Tulane recruit, 2018 OF Logan Stevens, eligible for the 2017 season, they were ultimately ruled ineligible, so the Patriots will have to wait until 2018 to get those two highly talented players in the lineup. Nonetheless, Coach Jeff Curtis has an extremely talented and veteran team for 2017, and looks primed to repeat as district 9-5A champions. It will not be an easy feat however, as the Catholic League is a knockdown, drag out brawl every year. District foes, Jesuit and Holy Cross, are talented and experienced programs, and when district play rolls around, anything can happen, as history has shown us.

SEASON COUNTDOWN

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