Well, it is that time of the year again in Louisiana!  The high school baseball season is getting awfully close with the first official games taking place on Monday February 9, 2026.  Last season, our staff was able to see more games than ever before, in every part of the state, and our goal is to see even more teams and prospects this spring.  To kick-off our wall-to-wall high school baseball coverage, we've put together the preseason release of our Power 25 Rankings.  Our staff has diligently worked at ranking these teams by looking at their accomplishments from last season, key losses, and returning impact players.  As with every ranking, this list will change throughout the high school baseball season, as teams start to take shape and form.  Our plan is to update the Power 25 Rankings every two weeks during the season.  Be sure to follow us, across all of our social media platforms, for the most comprehensive Louisiana High School baseball coverage in 2026!

 

PREP BASEBALL LOUISIANA POWER 25 RANKINGS (PRESEASON RELEASE)

Rank	Team	Class	2025 Record	2025 Finish
1	Sam Houston	5A	37-8	State Champions
2	Barbe	5A	34-6	State Semifinalist
3	Teurlings Catholic	4A	34-5	State Champions
4	Catholic BR	5A	37-5	State Champions
5	Northshore	5A	32-8	State Quarterfinalist
6	St. Thomas More	4A	26-10	State Semifinalist
7	Brother Martin	5A	31-9	State Finalist
8	West Monroe	5A	26-9	Regional Finalist
9	John Curtis Christian	5A	24-14	State Quarterfinalist
10	Benton	5A	35-6	State Semifinalist
11	University Lab	3A	28-11	State Finalist
12	Sterlington	3A	35-9	State Champions
13	Jesuit	5A	25-12	State Quarterfinalist
14	Mandeville	5A	19-17	Bi-District Finalist
15	Parkview Baptist	3A	31-8	State Quarterfinalist
16	Hahnville	5A	22-14	Bi-District Finalist
17	Holy Cross	5A	31-6	State Semifinalist
18	Walker	5A	27-13	Regional Finalist
19	Live Oak	5A	33-8	State Finalist
20	Brusly	4A	36-7	State Finalist
21	Dutchtown	5A	27-14	State Quarterfinalist
22	Archbishop Rummel	5A	21-14	Regional Finalist
23	Captain Shreve	5A	24-13	Regional Finalist
24	Central BR	5A	23-13	Regional Finalist
25	Zachary	5A	22-14	Bi-District Finalist

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Team Preview

Few programs in Louisiana have been as consistent as Sam Houston, and the Broncos enter 2026 looking to defend their crown after a dominant run to last year’s Class 5A State Championship. Coach Chad Hebert’s club once again features the two pillars that have defined the program over the last decade—pitching depth and high-end athleticism—but this year’s challenge will be blending those strengths with a wave of talented yet inexperienced underclassmen.

Still, expectations in Moss Bluff never change: this team fully intends to be back in Sulphur.

Team Strengths

➤ Pitching Depth – The Broncos return a deep, versatile, and well-balanced staff that can attack lineups in different ways. There may not be a single “workhorse” arm this spring, but Hebert has more than enough options to piece together 21 outs every night.

➤ Athleticism Across the Diamond – Defensive range, speed, and multi-position versatility give Sam Houston the ability to mix and match lineups depending on opponent and game flow. This is one of the most athletic rosters in 5A.

Team Weaknesses

➤ Youth & Inexperience – A large portion of the innings—both on the mound and on the field—will be occupied by underclassmen. The talent is undeniable, but there will be a learning curve, especially early in district play.

Top Returning Players

-Senior OF Charlie Donaldson: A catalyst in last year’s lineup, Donaldson returns after posting a .317 AVG with 10 doubles, 28 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. He’s a high-IQ player with competitiveness that fits perfectly anywhere in the Broncos order. Expect him to be a tone-setter for a young roster.

 

-Senior INF Carson Christ: A steady force who always seems to deliver in big moments, Christ finished 2025 with a .319 AVG, 13 doubles, 3 homers, and 24 RBI. Veteran presence, mature at-bats, and reliability make him a foundational piece again this spring.

 

-Junior RHP/1B Owen Galley: One of the best true two-way players in the state for 2026, Galley hit .344 with 6 doubles, 3 homers, and 28 RBI, while also emerging as a frontline arm with a 5–1 record, 1.83 ERA, and 55 strikeouts. He’ll once again be asked to do a little bit of everything—and he’s capable of even more.

 

-Junior RHP Brytn Gardner: A trusted right-hander returning after going 5–1 with a 3.73 ERA, Gardner gives Hebert another battle-tested option who competes in the zone and keeps hitters uncomfortable.

 

-Sophomore INF/RHP Kannon Keiser: One of the breakout arms in 2025, Keiser turned in a perfect 4–0 record with a 0.68 ERA as a freshman. A high-IQ player and advanced defender, Keiser is poised to make an everyday impact on the infield this season as well. 

 

-Junior RHP Bennett Harlow: A late-inning weapon who slammed the door repeatedly last season, Harlow returns with 4 saves and a 1.52 ERA. Expect him to handle high-leverage moments again while possibly working into a larger role.

 

Underclassmen Ready to Make an Impact

Sam Houston’s future is bright—very bright—and much of it will be on display this spring:

-Sophomore C/INF Grant Oustalet: The former Junior Future Gamer showed poise beyond his years at last year's LHSAA state tournament and played an integral part in the Broncos winning a state title. He played clean defense at third base for Sam Houston and finished the tournament 4-for-9 (.444) with several key hits along the way. We expect Oustalet to play a big part of the Broncos success in 2026.

 

-Sophomore OF/RHP Quinn Fiasconaro: A physical right-handed hitter with power to the pull-side; Fiasconaro earned varsity playing time last year as a freshman and will look to take that next step forward this spring for Sam Houston.

 

-Sophomore RHP/OF Brock Blessington: One of the most talented arms in the state's 2028 class and our #1 ranked player in the state. Blessington sports a fastball up to 91 mph and will be one of the young arms expected to take on meaningful innings this spring.

 

-Sophomore RHP Pat Conner: Imposing 6-5, 200-pound right-hander with arguably the livest arm in the state's 2028 class. Conner can already run his fastball into the low-90's. He's another guy that has a chance to earn varsity mound time in 2026.

 

-Sophomore OF Riggins Portie: A strong left-handed hitter with a gap-to-gap approach. Portie is another hard-nosed player in the Broncos sophomore class that will be relied upon moving forward.

-Sophomore LHP/OF Parker Smith: A promising young southpaw who could see varisty innings this spring.

-Freshman OF Jett Hebert: An athletic & twitchy ball of energy; Hebert is one of the better all-around baseball players in his class and is as tough as they come. He's another former Junior Future Gamer who can impact the game in a variety of ways and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.

-Freshman INF Bennet Hearod: One word to describe Hearod is "HITTER". He's got a knack for the barrel and showed his hit tool off at the Junior Future Games last summer.

 

Outlook

The standard at Sam Houston is championships, and that doesn’t change—even with a young roster. The Broncos have legitimate pitching depth, layers of athletic defenders behind them, and a handful of veterans who understand what it takes to make a deep playoff run.

The key to unlocking another trip to the state tournament will be the development of the young pitching staff, especially as they navigate the grind of district play. If those arms mature on schedule, this is a roster with every tool needed to contend for back-to-back titles.

Sam Houston will once again be right in the middle of the hunt for another Division I Non-Select State Title.

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