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: Westlake High School

Head Coach: Blake Reed

Classification: Class 3A (Non-Select D-III)

District: 4-3A

2025 Record: 27-12

2025 Playoff Finish: State Semifinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

Team Strengths: Experience & Offense

Top Returning Players: 2026 INF/RHP Hadley Hardesty, 2026 OF/RHP Grayden Ross, 2026 INF/RHP Cooper Cryer, 2026 C Brody Boudreaux, 2026 INF Peyton Kile, 2027 OF/LHP Brody Anderson

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Team Preview

The Westlake Rams enter 2026 with as much returning firepower as almost any club in Class 3A. Coming off a State Semifinal appearance, Head Coach Blake Reed’s group brings back a veteran core with years of varsity experience, a lineup capable of scoring in bunches, and the confidence of a team that’s been deep in the postseason before. Pitching depth will be the biggest question mark, but with the leadership and production returning, expectations inside the program are sky-high with a focus on making it Sulphur, LA in May.

Team Strengths

• Experience Across the Diamond – Westlake returns six multi-year starters, including several who have been in the lineup since their freshman year. It’s a mature group that understands how to win tight games.

• Offensive Firepower – With multiple .300+ hitters, run-producers, and athletes who can impact the game in different ways, the Rams should again feature one of Class 3A’s most balanced and dangerous lineups.

Team Weaknesses

• Pitching Depth – The Rams have frontline options, but developing reliable depth behind their top arms will be critical to sustaining another deep postseason push—especially with the offensive strength of District 4-3A.

Top Returning Players

• Junior Brody Anderson

2025 Stats (Hitting): .387 AVG | .461 OBP | 11 XBH | 37 RBI

2025 Stats (Pitching): 6-2 | 45 K's

The reigning District MVP is one of the more complete two-way players in all of Southwest Louisiana. A mature hitter with all-field ability, he’s added offseason strength that should translate to more power in 2026. On the mound, he competes in the zone, changes speeds, and gives Coach Reed a trusted arm in big games.

• Senior Hadley Hardesty

2025 Stats (Hitting): .312 AVG | .416 OBP | 4 HR | 37 RBI

2025 Stats (Pitching): 7–4 | 66 K's

A true anchor for the Rams, Hardesty brings middle-of-the-order run production and invaluable versatility on the mound. His experience, toughness, and ability to generate swing-and-miss stuff make him a legitimate leader heading into his senior season.

 

• Senior Grayden Ross

2025 Stats: .395 AVG | .543 OBP | 15 XBH | 33 R

Ross is one of the top athletes in the district and a table-setter who excels at pressuring defenses. He’s a plus runner with advanced reads in the outfield and emerging power at the plate. Expect him to be a high-impact presence once again.

 

• Senior Cooper Cryer

2025 Stats: .313 AVG | 25 RBI | 25 R

Cryer is a steady, reliable piece of the lineup and infield who contributes in every phase. His bat-to-ball skills and competitive at-bats slot him into multiple roles offensively, and he provides another experienced arm for a staff looking to build depth.

Outlook

Westlake returns a strong, battle-tested nucleus led by Hardesty, Cryer, Anderson, Boudreaux, Kile, and Ross—each a three- or four-year starter who has played in numerous big-game environments. While the Rams will need to replace several key contributors from last season, the presence of this veteran core gives the coaching staff confidence as younger players step into bigger roles.

Coach Reed likens the season ahead to “putting a puzzle together without the box to look at”—the corner pieces are established, but new, talented additions are emerging and pushing for time. That competitive depth should ultimately benefit the Rams as they navigate another tough schedule.

With an experienced lineup, a competitive edge forged from last year’s postseason run, and a locker room expecting big things, the Rams have every intention of making another deep playoff push—and giving themselves a chance to make it to Sulphur 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)