Prep Baseball Report

2025 Team Preview: Central (BR) High School


Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

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: Central (BR) High School

Head Coach: Sham Gabehart

Classification: Class 5A (Non-Select D-I)

District: 4-5A

2024 Record: 27-10

2024 Playoff Finish: Quarterfinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3

No. of Returning Pitchers: 1

Team Strengths: Pitching Depth, Competitive Nature, & Desire to Grow

Top Upperclassmen (2025 & 2026 Class): 2025 1B/RHP Jesse Lord, 2025 RHP Cade Starns (Millsaps College commit), 2025 LHP Tyler Snowbarger, 2025 INF Connor Logsdon, 2026 RHP/INF Cole Guidroz, 2026 C Maddox Blanton

Top Underclassmen (2027 & 2028 Class): 2027 UTIL Cooper Austin, 2027 OF/RHP Reece Tillman, 2027 C Draven Payne, 2028 C Parker Simcoe, 2028 RHP/OF Logan Thom, 2028 INF Aaron Keller, 2028 INF Chase Chandler, 2028 INF Sam Giles, 2028 INF Brodee Smith

 

Team Outlook

Central is coming off another successful 2024 season, as they posted a 27-10 overall record.  The Wildcats made it to the quarterfinal round of the LHSAA Non-Select D-I playoffs, where they lost to eventual State Champion West Monroe.  There's a new sherrif in town with Head Coach Sham Gabehart taking over the program from Leo McClure who retired after last season. The Wildcats are aiming to build on their recent success despite significant roster turnover.

The 2025 squad will feature many new faces, and the Wildcats will adopt a "win by committee" approach, relying on a scrappy, "whatever-it-takes" mentality to compete in one of the toughest classifications in Louisiana.

Like most Central teams of the past, the Wildcats pitching depth will be their calling card in 2025, even with the loss of guys like Grayden Harris and Jacob Leblanc. Senior Cade Starns returns as the ace of the pitching staff and will be tasked with leading the rotation. He’ll have help from senior Tyler Snowbarger and junior Cole Guidroz, among others who have made significant strides this fall. With the Wildcats’ depth on the mound, they’ll be well-positioned to compete in close games throughout the season.

 


The team’s competitive nature will also be a strength, as Coach Gabehart’s group prides itself on its ability to grind out wins through hustle and determination.

Offensively, the Wildcats will lean on a solid core of experienced players to anchor the lineup. Seniors Jesse Lord and Connor Logsdon, junior Cole Guidroz, and sophomores Cooper Austin and Reese Tillman are all expected to occupy the top spots in the order. This group will set the tone with a mix of power and contact, giving the Wildcats a balanced attack at the plate.  Lord was particularly impressive at our Senior Games event over the fall, showcasing a simple and repeatable left-handed stroke with the ability to drive the ball from gap-to-gap.

 



The rest of the lineup remains a work in progress, as competitive battles will determine the final pieces. With several players vying for playing time, depth and versatility will be key as the season unfolds.

While the Wildcats may lack the experience of last year’s team, their pitching depth and competitive mindset will once again make them a dangerous opponent in 2025. Success will hinge on how quickly the newcomers adapt to varsity competition and how the lineup takes shape as the season progresses.

With Coach Gabehart at the helm, the Wildcats are poised to be a scrappy and resilient team that won’t back down from any challenge. Look for Central to remain a contender in Class 5A and push for another strong playoff run this spring.

 


 

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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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