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: St. Edmund Catholic High School

Head Coach: Casey Charlie

Classification: Class 1A (Select D-IV)

District: 5-1A

2025 Record: 17-15

2025 Playoff Finish: Regional Finalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 1

No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

Team Strengths: Pitching, Team Speed, & Outfield

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 OF Lannie Reed, 2026 1B/RHP Clay Aguillard

Top Underclassmen (2028 & 2029 Class): 2028 LHP/OF Paxon Myers

 

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Team Preview

The St. Edmund Blue Jays enter the 2026 season looking to build upon last year’s postseason run, despite graduating eight key contributors from their 2025 roster. While the group will feature several new faces in the lineup, first-year Head Coach Casey Charlie remains confident that the program’s culture and returning talent on the mound will keep the Blue Jays competitive in the always-tough Class 1A landscape.

“Our ultimate goal for 2026 is to win a state championship,” Coach Charlie said. “But we know that starts with buying into fundamental, team baseball. Our motto this year is Outwork Everybody / Team First. When guys put the team above themselves, that’s when you build the right culture to win.”

Top Returning Players

-Senior OF Lannie Reed

A dynamic senior and the lone returning full-time starter, Reed will be counted on to lead both offensively and defensively. He hit .284 last season with 31 hits, 11 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, using his speed to pressure defenses and create havoc on the basepaths. Reed’s experience and versatility make him one of the most valuable pieces on this year’s roster.

-Senior 1B/RHP Clay Aguillard

Aguillard returns as one of the team’s most experienced arms, tossing 22.1 innings in 2025 with an impressive 1.57 ERA. The right-hander throws consistent strikes and keeps hitters off balance, while also providing a steady presence at first base. His leadership and poise will be critical for a young Blue Jays squad.

-Sophomore LHP/OF Paxon Myers

Myers showed flashes of excellence as a freshman, going 3-1 with a 2.56 ERA across 27.1 innings. He’s expected to play a major role both on the mound and in the outfield this spring. With another year of growth, Myers could develop into one of the program’s next standout two-way players.

 

Position Breakdown

Pitching: The Blue Jays’ biggest strength lies on the mound. In addition to Aguillard and Myers, Coach highlighted Cam Loewerand Peyton Vizena as two arms who impressed this summer and are ready to log meaningful innings. A few others could emerge to help solidify the staff as the season progresses.

Catching: Peyton Vizena projects as the primary catcher when not pitching, while Max Smith will handle the duties when Vizena is on the mound. Both bring good defensive instincts and leadership behind the plate.

Infield: Expect plenty of competition early on as the infield settles in. Aguillard and Loewer will share first base duties, while Wyatt Dubois, Owen Cart, Jack Aucoin, and Ben Miller are all in the mix for playing time at second base. Reed will likely slide into shortstop to fill a major void left by graduation, and Max Smith and Nathan Driggs are battling for the starting job at third base.

Outfield: The outfield should be a major asset for St. Edmund, with Hudson Simon, Myers, and Loewer leading a fast, athletic group. Bryer Guillory is also expected to contribute significant innings in the rotation and outfield rotation.

Outlook

While inexperience will be a factor early, St. Edmund’s combination of pitching depth, team speed, and athleticism gives them plenty of upside as the season unfolds. Coach [Name]’s emphasis on team-first baseball and daily work ethic has already started to take root within this group.

If the Blue Jays’ young talent continues to develop and their experienced arms perform as expected, St. Edmund has the pieces to make a deep postseason push and contend in Class 1A once again.

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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)