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
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 baseball carry the tradition, expectations, and year-to-year consistency of the Barbe Buccaneers, and the 2026 club looks poised to once again be squarely in the state title conversation. After a dominant 34-win season a year ago that ended one step short of the championship series, this group enters the spring experienced, battle-tested, and motivated to finish the job.

Team Strengths

The Bucs’ biggest strength lies in their balance. Barbe returns impact players on both sides of the baseball, with a veteran lineup that can score in a variety of ways and a pitching staff led by one of the premier arms in the state. Athleticism, speed, and physicality are evident throughout the roster, and the program’s trademark defensive consistency remains a calling card.

Top Returning Players

-Senior OF/RHP J.D. Alexander

Alexander is one of the most dynamic two-way threats in Class 5A. A physical left-handed hitter, he batted .382 last spring with a team-high four home runs and ten doubles, while driving in 25 runs and swiping 25 bases. Now fully healthy after a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, Alexander returns to the mound where he features an upper-80s two-seam fastball with heavy sink, a sharp mid-to-upper-70s slider, and a late-fading low-80s changeup. His presence lengthens the lineup and adds another impact arm to the rotation.

 

-Senior 2B/C Myles Ledoux

One of the best pure hitters in the entire state, Ledoux has been Barbe’s leadoff man for the past two seasons and sets the tone offensively. He’s a relentless competitor who consistently grinds out at-bats and seems to get tougher with two strikes. His ability to control the strike zone and put pressure on defenses makes him the engine that drives the Bucs’ offense.

 

-Senior SS Ja’Derryian Washington

Washington brings athleticism and defensive reliability to the middle of the field. He hit .277 last spring and led the team with 26 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and instincts on the bases. Early preseason reports from the Barbe camp have been positive on Washington, especially with the bat. If he can take another step forward offensively, he could be a difference-maker at the top or middle of the lineup.

 

-Senior 1B Haden Heath

A physical 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed bat, Heath earned an everyday role at first base in 2025 and delivered a strong offensive season, hitting .319 with two home runs, five doubles, and 21 RBI. Expect those numbers to climb this spring as he continues to mature at the plate. Heath also has upside on the mound, with a fastball that has touched 90 mph.

 

-Junior LHP/OF Lawton Littleton

Littleton was dominant as a sophomore and enters 2026 as the top junior left-hander in Louisiana. He finished last season 10-2 with 111 strikeouts, overpowering hitters with a low-90s fastball he can command to all quadrants. His separator is a mid-70s curveball that he can both land for strikes and generate swing-and-miss, and his improved low-80s changeup gives him a true weapon against right-handed bats. He is the clear ace and a potential stopper in big postseason moments.

 

-Junior OF Jordin Griffin

Griffin is a true spark plug with a rare blend of speed and emerging power. He impacts the game in multiple ways—pressuring defenses on the bases, covering plenty of ground in center field, and providing energy at the plate.

 

Upperclassmen Ready to Make an Impact

-Senior C Jacob Regan

Regan steps into a pivotal role behind the plate, replacing four-year starter Presley Courville. A solid defender with really good receiving skills, Regan provides a steady, pitcher-friendly presence and should handle Barbe’s talented staff with confidence.

 

-Senior OF Gillen McGee

McGee is a speedy, athletic outfielder and quality defender who will be counted on to turn the lineup over. He's also one of the team's best defenders in the outfield and can cover a ton of ground.

-Senior INF Colton Gregg

Gregg had one of the best falls on the roster and brings valuable versatility across the infield. Barbe has seen plenty of seniors emerge as impact pieces in their first year as starters, and Gregg looks poised to follow that same path for the Bucs this season.

 

-Freshman INF/RHP Zaylon Johnson

An exciting two-way prospect with a polished glove at third base and a smooth right-handed swing. On the mound, he’s already been up to 89 mph and pairs his fastball with a devastating split-finger changeup that serves as a true out pitch.

🔦 𝗟𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

2029 Zaylon Johnson (Barbe HS)

Checks in at #4️⃣ in our state rankings for the 2029 class.

Johnson has the potential to make an impact as a two-way threat for the Bucs as a freshman.

Check out the full 2029… pic.twitter.com/HICjxwi0Vk

— Prep Baseball Louisiana (@PrepBaseballLA) November 28, 2025

-Freshman LHP Talon Sweat

Sweat is a left-handed arm who could earn meaningful varsity innings early. He features a mid-80s fastball, a sharp 1-7 breaking curveball, and a developing mid-70s changeup. Barbe has a strong track record with freshman left-handers, and Sweat could be next in line.

-Sophomore RHP Gavin Sonnier

Sonnier has enjoyed a strong preseason for the Bucs, showing the ability to throw strikes with a true three-pitch mix. He doesn’t rely on sheer power, instead winning with command, sequencing, and feel for changing speeds.

 

-Freshman OF/RHP Cade Cascio

Cascio is another intriguing two-way freshman prospect that the Barbe camp is excited about heading into the spring. He owns a physical 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and hits from the left side with present gap-to-gap power. On the mound, Cascio works with a compact arm action from a ¾ slot, allowing his low-to-mid 80s fastball to show arm-side sink and run. He complements the heater with a developing slider and changeup, giving him real upside on both sides of the ball.

 

Sawyer was a member of our Junior Future Games team last summer and is now beginning to make his presence felt at the high school level. The freshman right-hander put together a strong preseason for the Bucs and is trending toward a role in the varsity mix. He’s a reliable strike-thrower with a three-pitch arsenal, and his loose, whippy arm action from a lower ¾ slot consistently creates angle and induces plenty of weak ground-ball contact.

 

Outlook

The 2026 Barbe Buccaneers enter the season hungry and focused, driven by last year’s semifinal loss and fueled by a strong offseason in the weight room. With a deep, athletic lineup, frontline pitching, and championship experience throughout the roster, the Bucs look like one of the clear favorites on the Non-Select Division I side of the playoffs.

Will this group bring home the program’s 13th state championship? Only time will tell—but Barbe has all the pieces in place to make another deep run this spring.

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Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Louisiana Top Prospect Games: Upperclass (Invite-Only)	6/16/26	University of New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)
Louisiana Top Prospect Games: Underclass (Invite-Only)	6/23/26	University of Louisiana-Lafayette (Lafayette, LA)
New Orleans Summer ID	6/30/26	Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)