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: Loranger High School

Head Coach: Derek Sims

Classification: Class 4A (Select Division II)

District: 7-4A

2025 Record: 13-16

2025 Playoff Finish: Regional Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

Team Strengths: Starting Pitching

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 RHP/SS Hayes Holton (University of Texas), 2026 3B/RHP Logan Matherne (Copiah-Lincoln Community College), 2027 OF/RHP Tanner Matherne, 2027 UTL/RHP Myles Cunningham, 2027 INF/C/RHP Wyatt Garofalo, 2027 1B/OF/RHP Hyatt Holton, 2027 OF/RHP Michael Walker

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Team Preview

The Loranger Wolves enter the 2026 season with a clear identity and a strong foundation to build on, as Head Coach Derek Sims brings back a veteran-laden roster that is anchored by one of the more experienced pitching staffs in Class 4A. After a 13–16 campaign a year ago, expectations are elevated in Loranger with the bulk of the roster — and nearly all of the innings — returning.

Team Strengths

Pitching is the unquestioned strength of this group. Loranger posted a 2.35 team ERA in 2025, and returns all but 11.2 innings pitched from last season. The Wolves feature two next-level arms at the top of the rotation, along with quality depth behind them. Seniors Hayes Holton (Texas) and Logan Matherne (Co-Lin CC) headline the staff, while two juniors logged 20+ innings apiece and are primed for even bigger roles. With four experienced starters and proven bullpen pieces, Loranger has the ability to control games on the mound night after night.

Team Weaknesses

Consistency at the plate will be the main area of focus this spring. While the Wolves return plenty of experience — 16 upperclassmen and 10 players with 15+ at-bats from last season — offensive production will need to take a step forward. Encouragingly, six juniors gained 20+ at-bats as sophomores, including four with 75+ trips to the plate, giving this lineup a chance to grow together and improve its overall approach.

Top Returning Players

-Senior RHP/SS Hayes Holton

The ace of the staff, Holton posted a 1.86 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 20.1 innings last spring. He also brings value offensively, hitting .263 with a .500 OBP, and provides leadership on both sides of the ball.

 

-Senior 3B/RHP Logan Matherne

A durable and dependable arm, Matherne logged 43 innings with a 2.11 ERA in 2025. At the plate, he hit .307with 1 HR, 5 doubles, and 15 RBI, making him a key two-way piece.

-Junior OF/RHP Tanner Matherne

Another reliable arm who finished with a 2.15 ERA across 48 innings, giving Loranger a strong presence in the middle of the rotation.

-Junior UTL/RHP Myles Cunningham

One of the more versatile players on the roster, Cunningham turned in a 1.80 ERA in 23.1 innings while also hitting .303, providing impact in multiple roles.

 

-Junior INF/C/RHP Wyatt Garofalo

A flexible defender who adds depth across the diamond and hit .256 last season.
 
Upperclassmen Ready to Make an Impact

-Junior OF/1B/RHP Hyatt Holton

A power bat projected to hit in the middle of the order and give the Wolves added thump offensively.

 

-Junior OF/RHP Michael Walker

Showed flashes at the plate in 2025, hitting .256 with 1 HR in 43 at-bats, and could take a step forward with increased opportunity.
 
Outlook

With only two seniors lost from last year’s roster and a wealth of experience returning, Loranger enters 2026 with legitimate expectations. If the offense can become more consistent to complement its elite pitching depth, the Wolves have the pieces to compete for a district title and make a serious run in the playoffs this spring.

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Louisiana Top Prospect Games: Upperclass (Invite-Only)	6/16/26	University of New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)
Louisiana Top Prospect Games: Underclass (Invite-Only)	6/23/26	University of Louisiana-Lafayette (Lafayette, LA)
New Orleans Summer ID	6/30/26	Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)