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: Live Oak High School

Head Coach: Cary Myers

Classification: Class 5A (Non-Select D-I)

District: 5-5A

2025 Record: 33-8

2025 Playoff Finish: State Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2

No. of Returning Pitchers: 1

Team Strengths: Depth, Speed, & Athleticism

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 LHP Zant Gurney (Bossier Parish CC), 2026 INF Mac Beadle (Coastal Alabama North CC), 2026 OF Landry Smart (Southeast Arkansas College), 2026 INF/RHP Colt Childres, 2026 RHP Michael Farris (Copiah Lincoln CC), 2027 OF Porter Rutledge, 2027 OF Adam Beeson, 2027 UTL Cullen Weller

Top Underclassmen (2028 & 2029 Class): 2028 INF Isaac Ott, 2028 RHP Ripp Clark, 2028 RHP Brice Craig, 2028 UTL Jaxon Rosenthal, 2028 OF/RHP Ryder Everett, 2029 C Jesse Bradley

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Team Preview

Coming off a 33-win season and a trip to the State Championship series, the Live Oak Eagles enter 2026 with a new voice at the helm and the same lofty expectations. First-year Head Coach Cary Myers inherits a program built on toughness, depth, and postseason pedigree. Despite graduating a large senior class and three coaches, Myers’ message has been clear: Live Oak doesn’t rebuild — they reload. With athleticism across the roster, speed in all phases, and competition at every position, the Eagles have the tools to make another serious run to Sulphur.

Live Oak has the type of roster flexibility that allows them to play fast, defend at a high level, and apply pressure offensively. Their team speed and overall athleticism stand out, and the depth chart features multiple players capable of contributing immediately. Several multi-positional athletes give Coach Myers the ability to mix-and-match lineups to keep the Eagles dangerous and unpredictable.

With 12 graduates moving on from the 2025 club, many players will step into expanded roles for the first time. Talent isn't the issue — varsity reps are. Early-season growth and how quickly this group gels in pressure situations will determine how high their ceiling climbs.

Top Returning Players

-Senior LHP Zant Gurney: A true ace and one of the state’s most competitive left-handers, Gurney returns after a dominant junior season. He finished 9–2 with 74 innings pitched, 72 strikeouts, and a 1.60 ERA, earning 1st Team All-District and All-Parish honors. Expect him to lead the rotation once again while providing production in the lineup as a DH. His poise, experience, and ability to win big games make him the heartbeat of the 2026 staff.

 

-Senior INF Mac Beadle: A steady presence on both sides of the ball, Beadle hit .303 with a .425 OBP, 15 RBI, and 13 stolen bases, earning All-District Honorable Mention. He logged 56 putouts and plays with reliability and competitiveness. As a senior leader with gap-to-gap ability, Beadle will anchor the infield core.

 

-Senior UTL Landry Smart: A multi-sport standout who missed significant time last year due to injury, Smart’s return injects toughness and athleticism into the lineup. He can impact the game in a variety of ways and is expected to be an everyday contributor now that he’s healthy.

 

-Sophomore INF Isaac Ott: Thrust into action as a freshman, Ott delivered several clutch postseason moments and proved he belongs at the varsity level. He hit .231 with a .362 OBP, and his versatility is one of Live Oak’s biggest assets. Whether he plays first base or shifts to the left side, Ott is poised to take a major leap offensively as one of the team’s purest hitters.

 

Upperclassmen Ready to Make an Impact

-Senior INF/RHP Colt Childres: One of the best defenders in the program, Childres is a polished infielder who could take over the everyday shortstop role. On the mound, he brings a unique sidearm/submarine look with feel to pitch and the ability to get outs in leverage situations. Live Oak expects a breakout season from him on both sides.

-Senior RHP Michael Farris: A 6-foot-1, 206-pound right-hander with a strong, durable frame, Farris adds another legitimate varsity arm to the Eagles’ 2026 pitching corps. He can run the fastball into the upper 80s, and when paired with returning ace Zant Gurney, Live Oak now features a formidable 1–2 punch capable of matching up with anyone in the state. Farris also offers two-way value, with the potential to earn at-bats and log innings at first base thanks to his strength and offensive potential. His addition significantly boosts Live Oak’s depth, competitiveness, and ceiling on the mound.

 

-Junior OF Adam Beeson: A high-energy mover with game-changing speed, Beeson brings value in the outfield and on the bases. His athleticism fits perfectly into Live Oak’s aggressive style of play.

 

-Junior UTL Cullen Weller: A 6-foot, 178-pound super-utility athlete, Weller may be the most dynamic mover on the entire roster. He brings a versatile tool set that allows him to impact the game in multiple ways—offensively, defensively, and on the mound. Offensively, he’s expected to slot near the top of the order, where his athleticism and on-base ability can set the tone early. Defensively, he can handle both infield and outfield duties at a high level, giving Coach Myers tremendous lineup flexibility. Weller will also factor meaningfully into the pitching staff and is expected to complement Gurney and Farris to form a quality varsity trio. Simply put, he’s one of the most versatile players in the program with the upside to make a major impact this spring.

 

-Junior OF Porter Rutledge: Another good runner who can create offensive pressure in a variety of ways. Rutledge profiles as a valuable lineup option capable of manufacturing runs and strengthening the outfield defense.

 

Underclassmen to Watch

-Sophomore RHP Ripp Clark: A big, projectable right-hander who is just beginning to scratch the surface. Clark is expected to take on meaningful innings early in the year and could quickly develop into a key arm in the Eagles’ rotation or bullpen.

 

-Sophomore RHP/INF Brice Craig: A strong-bodied right-hander who also swings it well. Craig can run the fastball into the mid-80s, and his competitiveness should earn him mound time throughout the spring.

 

-Sophomore UTL Jaxon Rosenthal: A left-handed hitter with advanced plate discipline who finds ways to get on base. His ability to play both infield and outfield gives Coach Myers matchup flexibility daily.

 

-Sophomore OF/RHP Ryder Everett: A twitchy, athletic outfielder with speed to burn. Everett can impact games defensively, on the bases, and potentially on the mound as well.

-Freshman C Jesse Bradley: One of the program’s future cornerstones. Bradley will compete for the everyday catching job once he returns from basketball. A left-handed hitter with a mature approach who uses the whole field.

Outlook

Live Oak’s standard hasn’t changed. The expectation remains to get back to Sulphur and compete for a state championship, and this group is hungry after falling just short in 2025.

A large portion of the roster experienced last year’s run — whether in starting roles, spot duty, or as developmental players — and the bitter taste of coming up one win shy hasn’t gone away. Under Coach Myers, the identity is clear: they reload, not rebuild.

The Eagles have:

-A frontline ace in Gurney

-Senior leadership

-Emerging talent in the lower classes

-Elite team speed and defensive versatility

-A competitive edge forged through postseason experience

If the newcomers settle into varsity roles quickly, Live Oak has every ingredient needed to write their own chapter and make another deep playoff push.

The goal is the same as always: Bring a state title back to Live Oak — and the 2026 Eagles believe they have the pieces to do exactly that.

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
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