The 2026 high school baseball season is right around the corner, and as always, excitement is building across the Bayou State. Programs from every corner of Louisiana have been hard at work this offseason—honing skills, building chemistry, and setting their sights on a return trip to Sulphur for the LHSAA State Championships. As is tradition, the state is once again loaded with talent, from seasoned veterans to rising underclassmen ready to make their mark.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll take an in-depth look at teams from every region as part of our comprehensive season preview series. These previews will lead right up to Opening Day, followed by the release of our Power 25 Rankings and the return of our always-popular Game of the Week feature.

Throughout the spring, Prep Baseball Louisiana will continue to be your one-stop source for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Be sure to check back weekly for our Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, updated Power 25 Rankings, and plenty of additional coverage highlighting the stories, performances, and programs that make Louisiana baseball special.

*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: Catholic (BR) High School

Head Coach: Brad Bass

Classification: Class 5A (Select D-I)

District: 4-5A

2025 Record: 37-5

2025 Playoff Finish: State Champions

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

Team Strengths: Starting Pitching & Pitching Depth

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 RHP/INF Mills Richardson (Southeastern Louisiana), 2026 LHP/1B Lucas Lawrence (Ole Miss), 2026 OF Harrison Kidder, 2027 OF Dekohta Jones (South Alabama), 2027 RHP/OF Jason DeCuir, 2027 RHP Tyler Denicola

Top Underclassmen (2028 & 2029 Class): 2028 INF Myles Auxt, 2028 OF/C Burke Cresse, 2028 OF Cooper Babin, 2028 LHP Camden Estep, 2028 INF/OF Ethan Emonet, 2028 1B Hayes Schramm, 2028 RHP/INF Reis Wascom, 2028 Howard Beach

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Team Preview

The Catholic (BR) Bears are chasing history in 2026. After capturing back-to-back Select Division-I State Championships, Head Coach Brad Bass and his program enter the new season with their sights set squarely on a three-peat — a feat few programs in Louisiana high school baseball history have accomplished. While the roster will feature several new starters this spring, the culture of championship-level preparation and performance remains firmly in place.

It’s a “Next Man Up” type of year for the Bears — a familiar theme in a program built on depth, discipline, and player development. Fortunately, Catholic’s biggest strength lies on the mound, where two of the top right-left combinations in the state return to lead the charge.

Senior LHP/1B Lucas Lawrence gives the Bears an ace-level presence from the left side. The Ole Miss recruit was outstanding in 2025, posting a 10-2 record with a 1.30 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and holding opposing hitters to a .210 batting average across 69.2 innings pitched. His command, poise, and ability to attack hitters with multiple pitches make him one of Louisiana’s premier arms heading into 2026.

 

RHP/UTL INF Mills Richardson complements Lawrence perfectly, bringing electric stuff and a competitive edge every time he takes the ball. Richardson, a Southeastern Louisiana recruit, went 7-1 with a 2.70 ERA and .200 opponent average over 44 innings, while also contributing as a versatile defender and utility bat.

 

Together, Lawrence and Richardson form a two-headed monster capable of carrying Catholic deep into another postseason run.

The depth behind them is just as strong, with seniors Tanner Forbes, Hayes Segar, and Kenneth Russell returning to anchor the bullpen, while juniors Jason Decuir and Tyler Denicola are expected to play meaningful roles right away.

 

Offensively, the Bears also return senior OF Harrison Kidder — a Louisiana-Lafayette football recruit and returning everyday starter — to set the tone in the middle of the lineup. Kidder brings physicality, speed, and power to all fields, paired with a 94 mph arm from the outfield.

 

Junior OF Dekohta Jones transferred in to Catholic (BR) this year and brings game-changing speed and athleticism to the Bears lineup.

 

Sophomore INF Myles Auxt got his first taste of varsity action last spring and handled his own by hitting at a .296 clip as a freshman.

Outlook

Yes — there will be new faces in the lineup. But make no mistake: the expectations haven’t changed. With championship DNA, elite arms at the top of the rotation, and a culture built on accountability and hard work, the Bears are once again built for Sulphur.

The road to a third straight Select Division-I State Title runs through 855 Hearthstone Drive — and the Bears are ready to defend the throne.

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Baton Rouge Preseason ID	1/11/26	Zachary Youth Park (Zachary, LA)
Baton Rouge Rising Stars ID	1/11/26	Zachary Youth Park (Zachary, LA)