2025 Team Preview: Sulphur High School
January 2, 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: Sulphur High School
Head Coach: Thomas Tillery
Classification: Class 5A (Non-Select D-I)
District: 3-5A
2024 Record: 25-13
2024 Playoff Finish: Regioinal Finalist
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Front-Line Arms & Pitching Depth
Top Upperclassmen: 2025 INF Jackson Beddoe (Louisiana-Lafayette signee), 2025 RHP/OF Slade Shove-Knox (Louisiana-Lafayette signee), 2025 RHP Dayton Hicks, 2025 C/UTL Brody Depriest, 2025 RHP Ace Daigle, 2025 1B Tajhai Smith, 2025 UTL/RHP Kayden Kochell, 2025 RHP Chase Stevens, 2025 INF Braydon Stacy, 2025 1B/3B Jay Michael Stelly, 2025 LHP Tanny Richard, 2026 LHP Carter Wilson, 2026 LHP/OF Adam Daigle
Top Newcomers: 2027 INF Cole Trahan, 2027 RHP Will Riley, 2027 LHP Laiton Jones, 2028 RHP/3B Brock Trahan
Team Outlook
The Sulphur Tors enter the 2025 season with high expectations following a strong 2024 campaign that ended as Regional Finalists. Under the leadership of Head Coach Thomas Tillery, the Tors aim to take the next step and contend for a Class 5A State Championship. Boasting a deep and talented pitching staff, the Tors have built a team around the philosophy of throwing strikes, playing clean defense, and generating enough offense to win close games.
The Tors’ pitching staff is their calling card, with several arms capable of dominating opposing lineups. The depth in the rotation will give Sulphur a significant advantage, particularly in the three-game playoff series format. With several pitchers already committed to collegiate programs, this group will be the backbone of the team.
Senior Slade Shove-Knox is the returning ace of the staff, after logging a 1.45 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 48 innings last season. We've seen the Louisiana-Lafayette recruit run his FB up to 93 mph to go along with his signature high-spinning breaking ball that registers consistently north of 3,000 RPM.
Fellow senior Dayton Hicks logged 51 1/3 IP last spring with a 3.00 ERA and 51 K's to only 11 BB's. Hicks has really improved over the off-season and has already been up to 89 mph in the off-season with a sweeping mid-70's SL.
2025 RHP Dayton Hicks (Sulphur HS)
— Prep Baseball Louisiana (@PrepBaseballLA) November 22, 2024
6’2” 175 lbs.
Another @PBR_Uncommitted senior that should play a big role for the Tors on the mound this spring. Showed good feel for the SL & CH. #BeSeen
FB: 84-87
SL: 71-73
CH: 76-77@AlexArmandPBR pic.twitter.com/GR6TuY0Z8M
Junior Carter Wilson is another guy who has gained strength and physicality since the summer. The uncommitted southpaw now sits in the low-mid 80's with his heater and is a guy that can truly land four pitches for strikes in any count.
2026 LHP Carter Wilson (Sulphur HS)
— Prep Baseball Louisiana (@PrepBaseballLA) November 21, 2024
6’0” 165 lbs.
Quality outing today from the former Jr. Future Gamer. Another guy who’s gotten stronger over the off-season. Feel for all 4️⃣ in any count. #BeSeen
FB: 83-85
CUT: 79-80
CB: 74-75
CH: 78-79@AlexArmandPBR pic.twitter.com/3eno7ioPmb
Fellow seniors Kayden Kochell and Chase Stevens are strike-throwing right-handers that will log meaningful innings for the Tors this spring.
Senior Jackson Beddoe is the Tors leading returning offensive player, but he'll also see time on the mound, thanks to a FB that's been clocked up to 93 mph.
A potential "X-Factor" for the Sulphur staff this spring is senior Ace Daigle. The 6'8" 235 lbs. right-handed hurler is healthy and stronger than ever according to Coach Tillery. He's been up to 92 mph over the fall and has improved all of his secondary offerings.
Sophomores Will Riley and Laiton Jones, along with freshman Brock Trahan are three young guys to keep an eye on for the Tors staff this spring.
Coach Tillery told us that the Tors offense has several utility guys and there could potentially be a lot of moving parts from a position player standpoint. As mentioned above, Beddoe is the leading returning hitter, after hitting .410 with 31 RBI and 24 SB in 2024. He'll also lead the infield at the shorstop position. Senior Brody Depriest was previously an outfielder for the Tors, but has since taken over the catching duties for this year's team. Depriest hit at a .295 clip with 12 RBI and 16 SB last season.
Fellow senior Tajhai Smith will be a potential power threat in the middle of the Sulphur lineup, after driving in 19 runs last season.
Jay Michael Stelly, Kayden Kochell, and Braydon Stacy are three additional seniors that will factor into the mix for the Tors this season. Both Stelly and Kochell are utility guys that have the chance to hit in the middle of the Tors order, and Stacy is a really versatile defender and a really good runner. Sophomore Cole Trahan is an underclassmen to keep an eye on for Sulphur's offense this spring. Cole is essentially a "legacy" at Sulphur with his dad, Jason, being the former Head Baseball Coach of the Tors and his brother, Gage, was a standout shortstop for the Tors who is now at McNeese State.
The Sulphur Tors are built to win in 2025, with a pitching staff deep enough to handle the demands of a playoff run, especially with the LHSAA's move to a three-game series in each round of the postseason. Offensively, the lineup has speed and emerging power, and the addition of young players will bring fresh energy and depth.
If the Tors can continue to execute their game plan—throw strikes, play clean defense, and produce timely hits—they have the potential to accomplish their ultimate goal at McMurray Park in the month of 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) |
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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