2025 Team Preview: Ascension Christian High School
January 10, 2025
The 2025 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Louisiana.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Sulphur, LA, home of the LHSAA State Championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes a reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Louisiana. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, followed by our Power 25 Rankings release, and our always popular Game of the Week segment.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the Bayou State. Each week, we will be releasing our Player and Pitcher of the Week, updating our Power 25 Rankings, as well as additional content that is focused strictly on high school baseball in Louisiana.
*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches. If you have not received a questionnaire and would like to fill one out, please email State Director Alex Armand at [email protected]
High School Name: Ascension Christian High School
Head Coach: Jared Kleinpeter
Classification: Class 1A (Select D-IV)
District: 8-1A
2024 Record: 21-13
2024 Playoff Finish: Regional Finalist
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Experience
Top Upperclassmen (2025 & 2026 Class): 2025 INF/RHP Wyatt Buratt (Belhaven College commit), 2025 INF/RHP Wyatt Stafford, 2025 1B/LHP Mason Leblanc (Baton Rouge CC commit), 2025 OF Ryan Trauernicht, 2025 INF/RHP David Flynn, 2025 OF/LHP Cade Dowden, 2025 C/OF Keegan Bourgeois, 2025 OF Carson Sulfsted, 2025 INF/RHP Jacob Brignac, 2026 RHP/OF Baylor Guidry
Top Underclassmen (2027 & 2028 Class): 2027 INF/RHP Luke Brignac, 2027 RHP Preston Leblanc, 2028 INF/RHP Jack Leblanc
Team Outlook
The Ascension Christian Lions, under the guidance of head coach Jared Kleinpeter, enter the 2025 season with a mix of promise and hurdles. After a 21-13 campaign in 2024 that ended in the second round of the playoffs, the Lions are looking to take the next step toward a deeper postseason run. With a lineup loaded with varsity experience and athleticism, the Lions have the potential to make noise in Class 1A, provided they can shore up their pitching staff and tighten up their infield defense.
The Lions boast an athletic and dynamic roster, with a lineup that features hitters capable of driving in runs and putting pressure on defenses with speed on the basepaths. Every projected starter returns with valuable varsity experience, a testament to the continuity and growth within the program.
Offensively, Ascension Christian projects to be even better than last year. With key contributors returning from injury and young players stepping into larger roles, the lineup is poised to improve upon last season’s production.
While the Lions bring plenty of experience in the field, the pitching staff is still a work in progress. With nearly 50 innings of pitching lost to graduation or other departures, the Lions must develop a new rotation and establish depth in the bullpen. Young arms are expected to step up, but the lack of proven experience on the mound will be a major storyline early in the season.
Additionally, the infield defense, which was hampered by injuries in 2024, will need to improve to provide stability behind the pitching staff.
Key Players to Watch
-Senior INF/OF Wyatt Buratt: A mainstay in the lineup since 8th grade, Buratt is one of the team’s most seasoned leaders. His ability to produce offensively and set the tone defensively will be crucial, and he'll also factor into the mix on the mound. Last season, he hit .389 with 10 HR, 11 2B, 2 3B, and 41 RBI. Buratt also went 3-5 with a 2.93 ERA and recorded 44 K/13 BB across 40 2/3 IP last spring.
-Senior INF/RHP Wyatt Stafford: Another four-year starter, Stafford’s experience and leadership will anchor the infield. He’s expected to contribute both at the plate and on the mound. Stafford hit at a .314 clip last spring with 3 HR, 9 2B, 6 3B, and 29 RBI.
-Senior INF/RHP Jacob Brignac: A reliable starter since his freshman year, Brignac’s steady glove and bat make him a key piece of the Lions’ lineup. Additionally, he will be a big piece of the Lions pitching staff, after going 5-2 last season with a 2.18 ERA across 51 1/3 IP.
-Senior OF Carson Sulfsted: A consistent starter in the outfield, Sulfsted brings speed and athleticism to both sides of the ball and has been a starter since his freshman season. Sulfsted finished last season with a .289 AVG, 5 2B, 19 RBI, and 12 SB.
-Senior INF/OF David Flynn: Will likely be a starting infielder and an important piece on the mound in the starting rotation or potentially as the team's closer. Flynn hit .343 with 29 RBI and 12 SB last season, and also went 1-1 with a 1.58 ERA across 13 1/3 IP.
-Senior OF/LHP Cade Dowden: Saw varsity time in the outfield last spring as a junior, and will look to earn even more time this season.
-Junior RHP Baylor Guidry: Another likely starting pitcher in the Lions rotation this spring. Guidry went 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA and tallied 29 K/15 BB across 28 1/3 IP last season.
-Sophomore RHP/INF Luke Brignac: After earning significant varsity reps as an eight grader in 2023 and starting the last 10 or so games as a freshman last year, Brignac is expected to play a pivotal role both in the infield and on the mound. Last summer, he hit .318 with 12 RBI and also logged 15 IP with a 1.40 ERA and 24 K/10 BB across 15 IP.
-Sophomore RHP Preston LeBlanc: A promising young arm, LeBlanc will be tasked with contributing meaningful innings as the Lions establish their rotation.
-Freshman RHP/INF Jack LeBlanc: The youngest player in the mix, LeBlanc’s potential on the mound and in the field makes him a name to watch in 2025 and beyond. Leblanc gained valuable experience over the summer and will likely contribute in some capacity this season.
The Lions face one of the toughest schedules in program history, particularly in the first four weeks. This challenging slate will test the team’s pitching depth and provide a measuring stick for where they stand against high-level competition.
Coach Kleinpeter believes the team’s offseason work in the weight room and on the field has put them in a strong position to succeed. However, he acknowledges that the Lions still have work to do defensively in the infield and must continue developing their young pitchers to compete at a high level.
The 2025 season for the Ascension Christian Lions will be defined by growth and resilience. With an athletic lineup, experienced core, and talented young players stepping into critical roles, the Lions have the pieces to be a contender in District 8-1A.
If the pitching staff can mature quickly and the infield defense shores up, Ascension Christian has the potential to make a deep postseason run. In the meantime, the Lions will focus on their mantra of getting better every day and using their tough early-season schedule to prepare for the challenges of district play and beyond.
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Upcoming Events
SHOWCASE | DATE | LOCATION |
Lake Charles Preseason ID | 1/4/25 | Sam Houston High School (Moss Bluff, LA) |
New Orleans Preseason ID | 1/5/25 | Mike Miley Stadium (Metairie, LA) |
Baton Rouge Preseason ID | 1/12/25 | Central BR High School (Baton Rouge, LA) |
New Orleans Rising Stars ID | 2/16/25 | Mike Miley Stadium (Metairie, LA) |
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