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: North Vermilion

Head Coach: Jeremy Trahan

Classification: Class 4A (Non-Select D-II)

District: 4-4A

2025 Record: 20-17

2025 Playoff Finish: State Quarterfinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3

No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Team Strengths: Pitching

Team Weaknesses: Loss of Key Defensive Players

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 LHP/1B Blaze Duhon, 2026 RHP Kevin Marix, 2026 OF/LHP Alexander Landry, 2026 Brock Broussard, 2026 Drew Durke, 2027 C/OF Avery Stutes, 2027 C/UT Landon Gremillion

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Team Preview

The North Vermilion Patriots enter the 2026 season looking to build upon last year’s quarterfinal appearance, returning a veteran group that’s anchored by one of the deepest and most experienced pitching staffs in Class 4A.

Pitching will once again be the backbone of this year’s Patriots team, led by senior left-hander Blaze Duhon, who returns for his fourth season as a starter. The southpaw was dominant in 2025, posting a 7-4 record with a 1.17 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 72 innings pitched, while also contributing heavily at the plate with a .375 average, 10 doubles, 5 home runs, and 35 RBIs. Duhon brings poise, competitiveness, and leadership to the staff.

 

Right-hander Kevin Marix gives Head Coach Jeremy Trahan another proven arm in the rotation. Marix rebounded from a sophomore injury to deliver a strong junior season, going 3-5 with a 2.70 ERA over 33.2 innings, while hitting .324 with 7 doubles, 3 home runs, and 24 RBIs.

 

Rounding out the staff are veterans Brock Broussard and Drew Durke, both seniors who have logged key innings the past two seasons, along with Alexander Landry, a senior left-hander who has shown the ability to compete at a high level. Landry also hit at a .296 clip last spring with 2 home runs, 9 doubles, and 33 RBIs.

 

While the Patriots bring back plenty of experience on the mound, they’ll need to replace several core defensive players from last year’s club. Establishing consistency behind the plate and in the middle of the diamond will be crucial as the season progresses.

Two juniors — Avery Stutes and Landon Gremillion — will battle for the catching duties this spring. Both are athletic and versatile, capable of contributing behind the plate or in multiple other positions. Their development could play a big role in stabilizing the Patriots’ defense early in the season.

 

With ten seniors leading the way, North Vermilion has the maturity, experience, and pitching depth needed to compete with anyone in Class 4A. Coach Trahan’s squad will once again navigate the always-tough District 4-4A, which consistently features playoff-caliber programs, while a challenging non-district slate will ensure the Patriots are battle-tested by postseason time.

If the new defensive pieces settle in and the offense continues to produce around its veteran core, expect North Vermilion to be a serious contender for another deep playoff run in 2026.

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Lake Charles Preseason ID	1/3/26	Sam Houston High School (Moss Bluff, LA)
Lake Charles Rising Stars ID	1/3/26	Sam Houston High School (Moss Bluff, LA)
New Orleans Preseason ID	1/4/26	Hahnville High School (Boutte, LA)
New Orleans Rising Stars ID	1/4/26	Hahnville High School (Boutte, LA)
Baton Rouge Preseason ID	1/10/26	Zachary Youth Park (Zachary, LA)
Baton Rouge Rising Stars ID	1/10/26	Zachary Youth Park (Zachary, LA)