Now, that the high school season has ended, we are excited to announce one player who emerged ahead of the competition at all levels across the state.  This player has been selected not only for their outstanding statistical numbers, but also for their overall effect on their high school program.  We are excited to announce that Donovan Lasalle of Barbe High School has earned our 2023 Player of the Year award! 

 

2023 PBR Louisiana Player of the Year

 

HITTING STATISTICS

AVG: .510

HR: 10

2B: 14

3B: 3

RBI: 43

R: 57

BB: 23

HBP: 9

K: 7

OBP%: .606

SLG%: 1.010

OPS: 1.616

SB: 33

 

Just one year ago, the Barbe Bucs 2022 high school baseball season was abruptly ended in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, at the hands of St. Amant, who ended up finishing as the state runner-up for the 2022 season.  During the Bucs Game 3 loss of that series, Donovan Lasalle, who was then a junior, swung at a borderline 3-1 pitch to fly out, which ended the game and the Bucs 2022 season.  There was no one who was harder on themselves after that loss than Lasalle, even though the game wasn't won or lost off of his last at-bat of that quarterfinal series game.  Games are always won and lost throughout the course of the game, but Lasalle used that failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.  Fast-forward a year later, and the Bucs are now fresh off of their 12th state championship in school history with Lasalle leading the way on offense and patrolling centerfield.  The Oklahoma State signee enjoyed one of the more impressive single seasons in Barbe's storied history, as he finished the year hitting at a ridiculous .510 clip, while belting 10 HR, 14 2B, and 3 3B.  Lasalle also drove in 43 runs, while scoring a whopping 57 runs and swiping 33 bases.  His overall season statistics, however, only paint a portion of the picture.  Lasalle, who was at the plate as a junior in 2022, when St. Amant ended Barbe's season, came through in the biggest way for the Bucs last month in their state championship game against defending state champion West Monroe.  The Rebels took a 4-1 lead going into the top of the 7th and were 3 outs away from claiming back to back state titles.  After giving up a couple of hits and Barbe 9 hole-hitter Ashton Quiller being hit by a pitch, the Bucs had cut the Rebels lead down to 4-2, and Lasalle stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and 1 out.  After working the count to 2-2 and just fouling a fastball straight back into the net, Lasalle unloaded on a hanging changeup to hit a no-doubt grand slam to left field to give Barbe the 6-4 lead.  The Bucs would end up scoring nine runs in total in the top of the 7th, defeating West Monroe by a score of 10-4, to win the Non-Select DI State Championship.  Donovan Lasalle's story of redemption and learning from past failures will be one that will be told for many years to come.  Congratulations again to Donovan Lasalle on winning our 2023 PBR Louisiana State Player of the Year Award!