Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

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Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will be posting high school team previews every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: St. Thomas Aquinas
Preseason Rank: No. 9
2016 Record: 32-3
District: 9-2A
LHSAA Class: 2A
Head Coach: Barrett Morgan
Playoff Run: State Champions
2016 Final Rank: 3
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Alex Egan- RHP, RHP/IF, 2018
Champ Artigues, IF, 2018
Donny Roberts, IF, 2017
Trey Milazzo, RHP/DH, 2017
Kyle King, OF, 2017
Luke Sweeney, UTL, 2019
Sam Smith, C, 2019

X-FACTOR
2018 RHP Alex Egan returns for the Falcons in 2017. The young right-hander played a huge role for the state championship club last year, and showed a spike in velocity at the Preseason All-State Games earlier this fall. Egan has always shown an ability to throw strikes, and as he enters his junior season, his fastball is sitting 85-87 mph. Fellow 2018 IF Champ Artigues, is another returning starter that played a large role in the Falcons 2A title in 2016. Expect Artigues to play a large role near the top of the Falcon order, as well as, stabilizing the middle of the defense.

OUTLOOK
The 2016 St. Thomas Aquinas were arguably the most successful team in school history, evidence by the class 2A state title, and their gaudy 32 and 3 season record. Now that they are a top the mountain, 2017 will provide an entirely new set of challenges. The Falcons’ return of seven position players and two pitchers, should immensely help the transition of becoming the hunted, rather than the hunter.

BOTTOM LINE
Coach Barrett Morgan has built a culture at St. Thomas Aquinas of fast-paced, aggressive style of play. Often times in 2016, the Falcons overwhelmed opponets, simply with their tempo and level of energy. Although there will be several new faces in the dugout in 2017, don’t expect much to change with the program’s culture, and the pride they take in how they play the game.

SEASON COUNTDOWN

+ High School Team Previews

+ Power 25

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