Prep Baseball Report

2025 Team Preview: Parkway 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: Parkway High School

Head Coach: Aaron Wicklund

Classification: Class 5A 

District: 1-5A

2024 Record: 24-10

2024 Playoff Finish: Regional Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

Team Strengths: Experience

Top Upperclassmen (2025 & 2026 Class): 2025 Abel Thetford (University of New Orleans signee), 2025 RHP Gabe Armond (Central Baptist College signee), 2025 1B/RHP Maddox Cockerham, 2025 INF Trenton Howard, 2026 OF Jax Thomson

Top Underclassmen (2027 & 2028 Class): 2027 INF Colby Donaldson, 2028 OF Dallas Loche

Team Outlook

The Parkway Panthers enter the 2025 season with high hopes, leaning on a strong core of experienced players and a tradition of success. After finishing 24-10 last year and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, the Panthers return six everyday starters, giving them one of the more seasoned lineups in Class 5A. The team’s strengths lie in their defense and experience, two critical components for making a deep postseason run.

While the Panthers are in great shape offensively and defensively, they face a significant challenge in replacing a senior-laden pitching staff from 2024. Head Coach Aaron Wicklund and his staff will need to identify arms to step up on the mound, but with a leader like senior shortstop and pitcher Abel Thetford in the mix, Parkway has a steady hand to guide them.

Thetford, a University of New Orleans commit and a 2024 first-team All-State utility player, is set to be the team’s catalyst. Last season, he showcased his versatility by hitting .387 with 10 doubles, 5 home runs, and 34 RBIs, along with drawing 32 walks. He’ll continue to play a major role both at the plate and on the mound.

In addition to Thetford, fellow senior Gabe Armond is another reliable and experienced arm returning for the Panthers.  Armond is a Central Baptist College recruit.

Senior 1B/RHP Maddox Cockerham will be another veteran contributor on both sides of the ball, Cockerham’s bat and defensive reliability will be pivotal.

Junior OF Jax Thomson is a returning outfielder with a strong all-around game and has the potential to be a breakout player this year.

Senior INF Trenton Howard is dependable at second base and a steady presence in the lineup.

There's also a couple of young guys to keep an eye on this spring.  Sophomore Colby Donaldson is a promising young middle-infielder with a bright future and freshman Dallas Loche is a talented young outfielder who could make an impact as a freshman this spring.

The Panthers’ wealth of experience will be their biggest strength, particularly on defense. With six starters returning, they should be a well-oiled machine in the field and at the plate. However, their ultimate success will depend on how well they fill the void left by last year’s graduating pitching class. If players like Gabe Armond and Abel Thetford can shoulder the load on the mound, Parkway could be a contender for a deep playoff run.

Coach Wicklund and the Panthers have the pieces to make noise come playoff time this year. With leadership from Thetford and a group of battle-tested seniors, Parkway has the potential to build on last season’s success and become a team that no opponent will take lightly come late-April and early-May.

 


 

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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)
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