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2023 Louisiana Year in Review: #1 Barbe's Comeback State Title Win

December 31, 2023
Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

It's always good to reflect at the end of each calendar year, and with 2023 nearing a close, our staff has had time to reflect upon what a great year it has been.  In keeping with the theme of "Reflection", we've decided to bring to you the Top-5 moments from the past year.  There were plenty of standout performances at our own showcase events, as well as exciting moments during the spring high school baseball season.  Be sure to follow us, across all of our social media platforms, as we release the top moments of 2023 over the coming days, as we get ready for an even better 2024.

 

LOUISIANA TOP 5 MOMENTS IN 2023

#1: Barbe's Dramatic Comeback State Title Win vs. West Monroe

The top moment of the year was a relatively easy choice for our staff.  The 2023 Non-Select D-I State Championship Game featured two of the most storied Louisiana high school baseball programs, in Barbe and West Monroe.  The Rebels were fresh off of a comeback semifinal win against Sam Houston, and were looking to defend their state title.  The Bucs had just defeated district-rival Sulphur in the semifinal round and were eager to be back in the state title game.  West Monroe dominated the majority of the game, taking a 4-1 lead into the top of the 7th, and were just three outs away from claiming back-to-back state titles.  Barbe had other plans, however, as the Bucs managed to collect back-to-back singles, followed by a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, which cut the Rebels lead to 4-2, and sent senior Donovan LaSalle to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.  The Oklahoma State recruit worked the count to 2-2, before unloading on a hanging changeup to blast a no-doubt grand slam to left field to give the Barbe the 6-4 lead.  The Bucs would end up scoring another four runs in the inning and closed out the game in the bottom of the 7th, to give Barbe the 10-4 win, and their 12th State Title in school history.

#2: West Monroe's Semifinal Comeback Win vs. Sam Houston

The Rebels entered the 2023 spring high school baseball season as the Non-Select D-I favorites, after winning the state title in 2022.  West Monroe had a wild and crazy run to the state title in 2022, as they had to come from behind in both the semifinals and the state championship game to capture the title.  2024 Trey Hawsey, a Louisiana Tech recruit, hit a walk-off homerun in the 2022 state semifinals to defeat Dutchtown and in the 2023 state semifinals, the Rebels would need to create some more magic, as they entered the bottom of the 7th, down 3-1, to Sam Houston.  West Monroe would indeed pull off the magical comeback win again, as 2024 John Pearson, a LSU recruit, delivered a walk-off single to seal the Rebels 4-3 win in the state semifinals.  

#3: Rummel Upsets Catholic BR in the State Semifinals

Rummel caught fire at the right time of the season last spring, as the Raiders reeled off eight straight wins to earn a trip to the LHSAA State Tournament.  Waiting for the 13th seeded Raiders in the semifinals was perennial power Catholic BR, who was the #1 seed in the Select D-I bracket.  What made this matchup even tougher for Rummel, is that the Bears were sending 2024 RHP William Schmidt, a LSU recruit, to the mound.  Rummel also sent their ace to the mound, in former Future Gamer and Tulane recruit 2024 RHP Giancarlo Arencibia.  The Raiders jumped on top first, as senior 1B Rhett Centanni blasted a no-doubt two-run homerun to left field to give Rummel the early 2-0 lead.  Catholic BR wouldn't wait long to respond, after senior Cole Cranford came through with a clutch two-run double to tie the game at 2-2, and this is where things got interesting.  After Cranford and the Bears tied the game at 2-2, the game ended up going into an almost two hour rain delay in the bottom of the 2nd inning, due to lightning in the area.  Catholic BR decided to not come back with Schmidt on the mound, after the long delay, and the momentum and tide turned back to Rummel's favor.  The Raiders ended up tacking on four runs, over the course of the next few innnings, before sophomore Gavin Nix connected for a two-run double off the left field wall, to give Rummel the 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.  Rummel would go on to win the game, by a score of 8-2, where they would advance to the state championship game against district-rival Jesuit.  The Blue Jays would end up beating Rummel in the finals, but it was one heck of a run for the Raiders in 2023, and with a good portion of their lineup returning this spring, they should be one of the teams to beat in 2024. 

#4: Louisiana 13U wins the Jr. Future Games

Each summer, hundreds of the nation's best and brightest prospects travel to Emerson, GA to compete in the PBR Future Games, the country's top event for uncommitted prospects.  Running at the same time as the Future Games, are the Jr. Future Games, which pits the nation's top 13U and 14U players against each other.  This year's Louisiana 13U group was definitely the most talented group that we've ever brough to the Jr. Future Games and it showed on the field.  The 13U "Boot Boys" went a perfect 6-0 during the tournament, outscoring their opponents 62-22, on route to winning the 2023 Jr. Future Games 13U Divisioin Title.

#5: William Patrick's Future Games Performance

Louisiana has been well represented over the years at the PBR Future Games, but this summer's event may have seen the best performance by a Bayou State prospect, in 2025 OF William Patrick.  The St. Frederick HS product was a member of our 2022 Future Games team, as an underclassman, but was unable to make the final two days of the event in 2022, due to coming down with an illness.  Eager to make an impact as a returning Future Games prospect, Patrick wasted no time announcing his presence the 2023 Future Games.  At the opening workout day, the 6'2" 190 lbs. outfielder showed his elite speed by blazing a 6.42 laser-timed 60, which was good for third-best at the entire event.  He also showed a big arm from the outfield, working up to 92 mph, and also showed increased strength and power at the plate, as he recorded a max exit velocity of 98 mph.  His performance over the course of the next 3 days in game, however, was even more spectacular than his showing at the workout.  Iin three games, against high-level arms, Patrick went 3-4 at the plate with a pull-side HR, opposite field 3B, 5 RBI, 3 SB, and 4 BB.  He impacted the game in a variety ways and was without a doubt one of the top prospects at the entire event.  After drawing attention from numerous schools and taking his visits this past fall, Patrick decided to announce his commitment to the defending National Champion LSU Tigers.  

 
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