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: Opelousas Catholic High School

Head Coach: Justin Boyd

Classification: Class 1A (Select D-IV)

District: 5-1A

2024 Record: 30-6

2024 Playoff Finish: State Champions

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Team Strengths: Experience

Top Upperclassmen (2025 & 2026 Class): 2025 INF Rowen Bergeron, 2025 OF Braylin Harris, 2025 LHP Zachary Collins, 2026 OF/RHP Kross Gillen, 2026 LHP/OF Carter Stelly, 2026 UTIL John Parker Trahan

Top Underclassmen (2027 & 2028 Class): 2027 C Myles Collins

 

Team Outlook

After a phenomenal 2024 season that saw the Opelousas Catholic Vikings capture the LHSAA Select D-IV State Title, the team enters the 2025 campaign with high expectations and a target on their backs. Head Coach Justin Boyd leads a program rich in tradition, aiming to build on last year’s success with a roster full of experienced talent and hungry contributors.

Experience will be the foundation of this year's squad. With a core group of players who were integral to last year’s title run, the Vikings are well-positioned to navigate the challenges of the regular season and make another deep postseason push. The team’s collective focus will be on daily improvement, with every practice and game designed to prepare them for the intensity of playoff baseball.

Opelousas Catholic returns quite a bit on offense, even with the departures of key seniors Mark Collins (UL-Lafayette) and Jordan Luna (LSU-Eunice) from a year ago.

Rowen Bergeron and Braylin Harris are two returning seniors that played pivotal roles on last year's State Title team.  Bergeron, a LSU-Eunice recruit, hit .355 with 3 HR and 36 RBI last spring, while Harris, a Bossier Parish CC recruit, posted a .446 OBP.

 

Juniors Kross Gillen and John Parker Trahan are two additional returning starters that Coach Boyd is excited to have back in 2025.  Gillen was a member of our Future Games team last summer and hit at a .330 clip with 4 HR and 31 RBI as a sophomore.  Trahan tallied a .287 AVG and .417 OBP last season.

 

Sophomore Myles Collins was the everyday starting catcher last season as a freshman and will be behind the plate once again this spring.  Collins finished last season hitting .396 with a .517 OBP, both very impressive numbers for a freshman.  

 

There's also reason for optimisim with this year's pitching staff, as the Vikings return three key contributors from last spring.  Gillen posted a 4-1 record and 2.76 ERA.  Senior Zach Collins went 3-2 with 2 Saves and a 2.30 ERA in 2024, while junior Carter Stelly went 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA.

 

To sustain their success, the Vikings will need contributions from a host of players competing for playing time on both the mound and the field:

Senior Garret Lormand – A promising talent with the tools to impact games.

Senior Zack Miller – His development will be key in bolstering the team’s depth.

Senior Roy Henry – Another potential breakout candidate who could shine with increased opportunities.

Sophomore Lane Dugas – Expected to compete for key innings on the mound.

Juniors Maurice Marcel and Hunter Doucet, along with 8th Grader Evan Duplechain – All have the potential to carve out meaningful roles and add value in key moments.

 

The path to repeat as State Champions is never easy, but the Vikings have the tools, leadership, and experience to make it happen. Under Coach Boyd’s guidance, the team is committed to steady improvement throughout the season. If the returning core continues to elevate their game and the emerging players step up to fill key roles, the Vikings will once again be a formidable force in Class 1A.

Expect the journey to include challenges, but this team has shown it knows how to win when it matters most. With a focus on growth and a championship mindset, Opelousas Catholic is poised to contend for another state title in 2025.

 

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