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]

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High School Name: Erath High School

Head Coach: Jeremy Picard

Classification: Class 3A (Non-Select D-III)

District: 5-3A

2025 Record: 26-13

2025 Playoff Finish: State Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Team Strengths: Experience

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 OF Jack Landry, 2026 OF Landon Lemaire, 2026 OF/RHP Talen Landry, 2027 SS/RHP Landen Derouen, 2027 MIF/RHP Carter Champagne

Top Underclassmen (2028 & 2029 Class): 2028 INF/RHP Tate Collins

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Team Preview

Erath enters the new season with momentum and purpose after last year’s historic run to the Non-Select Division III State Finals. The Bobcats return an experienced, battle-tested core that understands what it takes to navigate a deep playoff push. Leadership will be a strength once again, as multiple seniors with postseason experience anchor the lineup and the top of the rotation.

Pitching depth will be the key question entering the spring, but the return of a healthy Carter Champagne—paired with proven arms like Talen Landry and Landen Derouen—provides a strong foundation. Offensively, this group should be balanced, athletic, and tough to put away, with multiple players capable of impacting games in different ways.

Top Returning Players

-Senior OF Jack Landry

A three-year starter in right field, Landry returns as one of the emotional engines of the Bobcats. Fresh off a standout football season at quarterback, he brings the same leadership traits and competitive fire to the baseball diamond. At the plate, he was one of Erath’s most productive bats in 2025, hitting .333 with 4 HR, 25 RBI, and 7 doubles, and he may also see increased innings on the mound this spring. Expect Landry to be a steadying veteran presence who sets the tone daily.

The Bobcats get right back into this game off the bat of 2026 Jack Landry (Erath HS).

The @PB_Uncommitted junior notches a two-out single through the six-hole to score another run.

After 3 innings, Sterlington now leads 4-3 over Erath. #BeSeen@AlexArmandPBR | @davisj_9 pic.twitter.com/oICrfpCnuS

— Prep Baseball Louisiana (@PrepBaseballLA) May 16, 2025

-Senior OF Landon Lemaire

Lemaire anchored the top of the order a year ago and remains one of the Bobcats’ most dynamic athletes. A true table-setter, he hit .327 with 3 doubles and 20 stolen bases, constantly applying pressure to opposing defenses. He’s a reliable defender in the outfield and could factor into the pitching plans as well. Erath will once again rely on Lemaire’s speed, energy, and senior leadership to spark the offense.

-Senior RHP/OF Talen Landry

One of the club’s most trusted arms, Landry delivered in big moments last postseason, including a pivotal outing in Game 3 of the state finals. He finished the year 6–3 with a 2.41 ERA, while also contributing offensively with a .300 average, 1 HR, 1 double, and 11 RBI out of the nine-hole. His competitiveness, experience, and ability to handle pressure make him a crucial piece of Erath’s 2026 rotation and overall leadership core.

‼️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝

And just like that, we’ve got a tie game, as 2026 Talen Landry (Erath HS) goes down and gets this one for a solo home run to right field.

We’re all tied at 1-1 heading to the 4th. #BeSeen@AlexArmandPBR | @davisj_9 pic.twitter.com/eOuWKu3EBq

— Prep Baseball Louisiana (@PrepBaseballLA) May 17, 2025

-Junior SS/RHP Landen Derouen

Derouen made a major leap as a sophomore and now enters his junior season as one of the most important two-way players in Class 3A. A two-year starter who has hit above .300 in both seasons, he posted a .315 average with 2 HR, 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 31 RBI in 2025. On the mound, he was equally valuable, going 6–3 with a 2.80 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and 22 walks. Derouen will once again hold down a premium role in the rotation while hitting in the middle of the order.

-Junior RHP/MIF Carter Champagne

Champagne entered 2025 projected to be a major part of the pitching staff, but an untimely injury limited his innings. Now fully healthy, he is expected to take on a much larger role on the mound and could help solidify a staff that needs depth. Defensively, Champagne started throughout last season, rotating between shortstop and third base depending on matchups. A breakout junior year feels well within reach.

 

Underclassmen to Watch

-Sophomore 3B/RHP Tate Collins

Collins gained valuable experience as a freshman after starting multiple games at third base and seeing early-season action on the mound. Most impressively, he started Game 1 of the state finals, giving him rare big-stage exposure for a young player. Erath expects him to be an everyday contributor in 2026, with the potential to impact the Bobcats as a two-way piece.

Outlook

With one of the tougher schedules in Class 3A, Erath’s goal is simple: be hardened, tested, and ready for another postseason charge. This group embraces challenges and competes with purpose, and expectations around the program remain high.

The mission hasn’t changed—the Bobcats have their sights set on another deep run in 2026.

 

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