Now that the 2026 high school season has ended, we are excited to continue our post-spring awards announcements. We are excited to announce that Beau Stevens of Archbishop Rummel has earned our 2026 Newcomer of the Year award!  Below, we dive into Stevens's stellar freshman campaign. 

 

2026 Prep Baseball Louisiana Newcomer of the Year

 

2026 STATISTICS

Average: .355

Home Runs: 5

Doubles: 7

Triples: 1

Runs Batted In: 34

Runs Scored: 29

Walks: 26

Strikeouts: 14

THE STEVENS STORY

On Opening Day, I made the trip to watch what was one of the premier matchups of the spring: Rummel versus Hahnville. Hahnville edged out a 1-0 victory behind a dominant performance from Koa Romero, who struck out 15 hitters and launched a solo home run for the game’s only run.

While Romero stole the headlines that day, another player quietly caught my attention. Buried near the bottom of Rummel’s lineup was a freshman named Beau Stevens. He went hitless, but there was something different about his at-bats. Facing a pitcher running his fastball into the mid-90s, Stevens never looked overmatched. He took quality pitches, stayed disciplined in the strike zone, and showed a swing that suggested bigger things were ahead.

Fast forward a few months, and those early impressions proved accurate. Stevens moved into the leadoff spot for the Raiders and held it for the final two-thirds of the season, emerging as one of the state’s most productive freshmen. He finished the year hitting .355 with 5 home runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 34 RBIs, and 29 runs scored. Even more impressive was his advanced approach at the plate, drawing 26 walks while striking out only 14 times.

The Catholic League has long been a breeding ground for elite talent, and Stevens looks poised to be the next standout to carry that tradition forward. His combination of maturity, discipline, and production as a freshman made him a clear choice for our 2026 Newcomer of the Year.