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2026 LHSAA State Championship Preview: #1 Brother Martin vs. #2 Catholic (BR)

May 11, 2026
Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

Just like that, the 2026 Louisiana high school baseball season is down to its final chapter. What began back in January with dreams and determination has now led to the biggest stage in the Bayou State — the LHSAA State Tournament in Sulphur, LA. McMurry Park will be the epicenter of Louisiana baseball this week, as communities rally behind their teams in pursuit of championship glory.

All eyes will be on Division I (Select), where #1 Brother Martin and #2 Catholic (BR) are set to collide in a showdown with everything on the line. The Crusaders and Bears have scratched and clawed their way through the postseason gauntlet, and now just one series — a best-of-three starting Thursday, May 14, 2026 — stands between them and the State Title. Strap in, because this one has all the makings of a classic. Make sure to follow us on all social platforms for nonstop coverage of the 2026 LHSAA State Tournament!

DIVISION I (SELECT) STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PREVIEW

This year’s Division I (Select) State Championship Series gives Louisiana high school baseball fans exactly what they were hoping for — a rematch of last year’s title showdown between #1 Brother Martin and #2 Catholic (BR), beginning Thursday, May 14, at McMurry Park in Sulphur.

Both programs entered the spring as clear-cut favorites to contend for a state championship and both have done nothing but validate those expectations all season long.

Last year, Catholic (BR) swept Brother Martin in Sulphur to capture its second consecutive state title, but the series was far more competitive than the final results may have indicated. With the amount of talent, pitching depth, and experience returning on both sides, this year’s championship series feels destined to be another heavyweight battle.

Brother Martin Crusaders

Despite losing a large senior class from last year’s runner-up squad, Head Coach Jeff Lupo and the Crusaders didn’t rebuild in 2026 — they reloaded.

Brother Martin has been absolutely dominant throughout the postseason, sweeping all three playoff series while outscoring opponents 46-3 across six games.

The Crusaders’ pitching staff has been the catalyst behind that run.

Seniors Blaise Tingstrom (Delgado Community College) and Drake Amedee (LSU-Eunice) have formed one of the most dominant postseason duos in the state. Tingstrom is 3-0 in the playoffs and has allowed only six hits and one earned run over 18 innings while striking out 18 hitters. Amedee has been equally impressive, posting a 3-0 record with 26 strikeouts across 19 postseason innings.

 

Drake Amedee - (03/23/2026)

What makes Brother Martin especially dangerous, however, is the depth behind those two.

Junior Nolan Amato has been outstanding all spring as the Crusaders’ third starter, while senior Caden Vallee and sophomore Chance Pecoraro have both provided quality innings during the postseason when called upon.

Offensively, Brother Martin is every bit as balanced and versatile as its pitching staff.

Junior Brady McCluskey serves as the sparkplug atop the lineup and consistently puts pressure on opposing defenses. The uncommitted junior went 3-for-6 with a double in last weekend’s semifinal series against St. Thomas More and continues to set the tone offensively.

 

Brady McCluskey - (03/23/2026)

Senior Bronson Leaumont has been the steady run producer in the middle of the order all season long and delivered one of the biggest swings of the postseason last week with a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Cougars.

Junior Tyler Durand has done an exceptional job behind the plate managing one of the state’s best pitching staffs, while junior Brody Shannon has emerged as one of the breakout players in Louisiana during his second season as the starting shortstop.

Sophomore Colton Elliott has also provided a major boost offensively with his physical left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup and has been a difficult matchup for opposing pitching staffs all spring.

Catholic (BR) Bears

At this point, what Head Coach Brad Bass has built at Catholic (BR) can only be described as a dynasty.

The Bears enter this week chasing a third consecutive state championship and their fourth title in the last five years, but this season has presented its fair share of adversity.

Catholic (BR) opened the year without senior ace Lucas Lawrence, who suffered an injury late in the fall that required surgery and sidelined him for the beginning of the season.

Fortunately for the Bears, Lawrence returned late in the regular season and has looked more and more like himself with each outing.

The former Future Gamer and Ole Miss recruit delivered a storybook performance in last week’s semifinal series against John Curtis Christian. In Game 1, Lawrence tossed a complete-game no-hitter to lead Catholic (BR) to a 5-0 victory in what marked his final career start at Grizzly Field.

Lawrence attacks hitters with a polished four-pitch mix highlighted by an 87-92 mph fastball that plays even harder because of his elite extension and ability to command the baseball.

Fellow senior Mills Richardson, a former Future Gamer and Southeastern Louisiana recruit, has also been outstanding this postseason. Richardson is 3-0 through three playoff starts with 17 strikeouts across 13 innings pitched.

 

02/12/26 vs. West Monroe

Sophomore Reis Wascom deserves a ton of credit as well after helping stabilize the Bears’ rotation during Lawrence’s absence earlier in the season. The talented right-hander features a mid-to-upper-80s fastball paired with a plus low-to-mid-70s slider that shows big sweep and swing-and-miss potential.

Senior Tanner Forbes, another former Senior Future Gamer, was nails out of the bullpen in Game 2 against John Curtis Christian last weekend, recording the save after tossing 1.2 no-hit innings with three strikeouts to send the Bears back to Sulphur once again.

Offensively, Catholic (BR) appears to be peaking at the perfect time.

The Bears have exploded for 53 runs across six playoff games and feature a lineup loaded with experienced hitters capable of changing a game with one swing.

Senior Harrison Kidder has been scorching hot in the middle of the order during the postseason. The Louisiana-Lafayette football recruit went 5-for-7 with two doubles in the semifinal series against John Curtis Christian and continues to provide a huge physical presence in the lineup.

Senior Jude Schneider also turned in a strong semifinal performance, finishing 3-for-6 with a double against the Patriots.

One of the biggest additions to the Bears lineup this season has been junior Dekohta Jones. The former Future Gamer and South Alabama commit brings an electric combination of power, athleticism, and speed that allows him to impact games in a variety of ways.

Richardson, along with fellow seniors Hayes Segar, Kooper Childs, Taylor Goldsmith, and Turner Goldsmith, have all delivered timely performances throughout the season and give Catholic (BR) tremendous lineup depth.

Perhaps the biggest question entering the spring for the Bears was how they would replace former catcher Andrew Clapinski behind the plate. Sophomore Myles Auxt has answered that question emphatically. An infielder by trade, Auxt has embraced the transition to catcher and developed into a dependable presence behind the dish in a short amount of time.

Final Thoughts

It’s the rematch Louisiana high school baseball fans have been waiting for — #1 Brother Martin vs. #2 Catholic (BR) for the Division I (Select) State Championship.

Both clubs feature deep, battle-tested pitching staffs. Both lineups are versatile enough to manufacture runs or leave the yard at any moment. And both programs are led by experienced head coaches who understand exactly what it takes to win on the biggest stage.

Will Brother Martin earn revenge after last year’s loss and capture the program’s first state title since 2014? Or will Catholic (BR) continue its dominant run and secure a third straight championship to further cement its dynasty status in Louisiana baseball?

No matter how it unfolds, this series has all the makings of an instant classic filled with elite talent, emotional moments, and championship-level baseball.

Louisiana high school baseball fans — this will be one that you will not want to miss.

DIVISION I (SELECT) STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

-Game 1

Date: Thursday May 14, 2026

Location: McMurry Park - Sulphur, LA (Field 41)

Time: 5:30 PM

Home Team: #1 Brother Martin

Away Team: #2 Catholic (BR)

-Game 2

Date: Friday May 15, 2026

Location: McMurry Park - Sulphur, LA (Field 41)

Time: 5:30 PM

Home Team: #2 Catholic (BR)

Away Team: #1 Brother Martin

-Game 3 (if necessary)

Date: Saturday May 16, 2026

Location: McMurry Park - Sulphur, LA (Field 41)

Time: 5:30 PM

Home Team: #1 Brother Martin

Away Team: #2 Catholic (BR)

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