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]

---

 

High School Name: Vinton High School

Head Coach: Dane Clark

Classification: Class 2A (Non-Select D-IV)

District: 4-2A

2025 Record: 17-12

2025 Playoff Finish: State Quarterfinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

Team Strengths: Pitching & Experience

Team Weaknesses: Speed

Top Upperclassmen (2026 & 2027 Class): 2026 INF/RHP Gage Guidry (East Central CC), 2027 OF Cobe Durio, 2027 INF Kortlin Kyle, 2027 RHP/1B Uriah Patin, 2027 UTL/RHP Tim Hooper, 2027 C Kalem Jensen, 2027 LHP/OF Courtlin Savoie

Top Underclassmen (2028 & 2029 Class): 2028 UTL/RHP Clayton LaPoint, 2028 C/1B Brennan MaGee

 

---

Team Preview

The Vinton Lions are out to prove a point in 2026, returning eight starters from last season’s 17–12 squad that reached the Quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years — and just the second time in program history. With a strong core returning and valuable postseason experience under their belts, Head Coach Dane Clark’s group enters the spring with high expectations and a championship mindset.

Pitching and experience will once again be the foundation for this year’s club. Senior Gage Guidry leads the charge after a dominant junior campaign in which he hit .398 with 25 runs scored and went 6–2 on the mound with 110 strikeouts across 68 innings. Coach Clark told us that the East Central Community College recruit has been up to 94 mph this fall and gives the Lions a true ace capable of matching up with anyone in the state.

Behind him, junior Kortlin Kyle provides another reliable two-way presence after hitting .333 with 23 RBI and logging 38 innings on the mound with 33 strikeouts as a sophomore. Junior Tim Hooper brings versatility and consistency, posting a .323 average and .462 OBP last season while contributing 22 innings and 17 strikeouts on the hill. Junior Uriah Patin adds even more depth to the staff after tossing 32 innings with 25 strikeouts and a 3.71 ERA. Behind the plate, junior Kalem Jensen anchors the defense after fielding .950 last spring, while fellow junior Cobe Durio returns as a steady outfield presence who posted a .370 OBP and played error-free defense.

Adding to the excitement is the arrival of Courtlin Savoie, a transfer from Barbe High School, who has a chance to make an immediate impact both in the lineup and on the mound.

The Lions have attacked the offseason with purpose, putting in work in the weight room and carrying over the toughness and competitiveness that many of their players developed on the football field. They’ll be battle-tested early, facing a challenging schedule that includes two 5A opponents, four 4A teams, and five 3A programs such as Zachary, Southside, St. Louis, Westlake, and Iowa — all designed to prepare them for another deep postseason run.

Confident, battle-tested, and motivated to make history once again, the 2026 Vinton Lions are primed to be a serious contender in Class 2A.

 

---

 

Follow on X (Formerly Twitter): @PrepBaseballLA

Follow on Instagram: @PrepBaseballLA

Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Report Louisiana

 

+ Click HERE to create a free profile.

+ Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site. 

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)