2025 Team Preview: Westlake High School
December 27, 2024
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: Westlake High School
Head Coach: Blake Reed
Classification: Class 3A (Non-Select D-III)
District: 3-3A
2024 Record: 23-13
2024 Playoff Finish: Quarterfinalist
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Offense
Top Upperclassmen (2025 & 2026 Class): 2025 MIF Kash Martin (Bossier Parish CC recruit), 2025 OF/RHP Gunnar Robertson, 2026 INF/RHP Hadley Hardesty, 2026 C Brody Boudreaux, 2026 OF/RHP Grayden Ross, 2026 INF/RHP Cooper Cryer
Top Underclassmen (2027 & 2028 Class): 2027 OF/LHP Brody Anderson
Team Outlook
The Westlake Rams enter the 2025 season with sky-high expectations after consecutive trips to the state quarterfinals. With a roster that closely mirrors last season's, the Rams are poised to push past the quarterfinal hurdle and chase their first state championship since 1996. Head Coach Blake Reed's squad only graduates one senior from last year’s team, giving this group a unique blend of continuity, experience, and determination.
The Rams' senior class will lead the charge in 2025. Shortstop Kash Martin and outfielder/pitcher Gunnar Robertson, both four-year starters, provide elite leadership and production. Martin, a Bossier commit, is a consistent force at the plate (.400 career hitter with power) and a savvy defender. Robertson complements him with plus defensive skills in the outfield and a strong arm both on the mound and in the field. Two-year starter Mason Powell and senior transfer Bradyn Spears round out a strong veteran group, with Spears expected to contribute both in the lineup and on the mound.
The junior class also offers a wealth of experience. Cooper Cryer, Hadley Hardesty, Brody Boudreaux, and Grayden Ross have all played key roles and are poised to take another step forward. Cryer, a versatile infielder and one of the team’s most reliable starting pitchers last year, anchors the middle of the lineup. Hardesty, a 6'5" corner infielder and pitcher, brings a commanding presence both at the plate and on the mound with his four-pitch arsenal. Boudreaux continues to shine as a defensive stalwart, catching nearly every inning in 2024, while Ross is an athletic and versatile player who can contribute offensively and defensively.
One name to watch closely is sophomore Brody Anderson. Coming off a stellar football season as the Rams’ quarterback, Anderson is expected to make a significant impact in his second baseball season. The 6’3” lefty showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman starter and will see an expanded role on the mound this year, armed with a low-80s fastball and a polished slider/changeup combination.
Coach Reed has strategically crafted a challenging schedule designed to prepare the Rams for a deep playoff run. Matchups against perennial state tournament contenders like Iowa, Lutcher, Dequincy, Barbe, South Beauregard, St. Louis, North Vermillion, and Catholic (BR) will test Westlake throughout the season. The emphasis will be on growth and preparation rather than the win-loss column, with an eye toward peaking in the playoffs.
The Rams' biggest advantage heading into 2025 is experience. With so many players returning from their quarterfinal runs in 2023 and 2024, the team is battle-tested and ready for the challenges ahead. If the Rams can stay healthy and continue to build on their offseason momentum, this could be the year they break through to the state championship.
The message is clear: the quarterfinals are not the goal anymore. This team has the talent, depth, and experience to go all the way. The Westlake Rams are hungry to make history in 2025.
Follow on X (Formerly Twitter): @PrepBaseballLA
Follow on Instagram: @PrepBaseballLA
Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Report Louisiana
+ Click HERE to create a free profile.
+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site.
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) |
Related Content: