The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, our staff is excited for the upcoming spring season.  Players and coaches have been working all fall and through December, in preparation for the upcoming season and as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Louisiana.

Programs across the state have goals and aspirations to finish the year in Sulphur, LA at the LHSAA State Tournament, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes a reality.  We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams and players across the state, as we preview many of the great programs from Louisiana.  We will take you right up to the first pitch of this season with these team previews and we'll continue providing coverage throughout the spring. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season, as we strive to be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Louisiana.  Each week we will release our players of the week, as well as our Power 25 Rankings, which encompasses the top 25 teams in the state, regardless of class.  

*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 did not receive a questionnaire and would like to fill one out, please send an email to [email protected].

-High School Name: Episcopal (BR) High School

-Coach’s Name: Travis Bourgeois

-Classification: Class 2A (Select Division III)

-District: 6-2A

-No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2

-No. of Returning Pitchers: 1

-Team Strengths: Youth and Enthusiasm

-Top Returning Players: 2024 SS/RHP Walker Dauzat, 2025 C/RHP Chasen Cresson, 2025 OF/LHP Brody Bailey

 

 

 

Team Outlook

Episcopal (BR) finished the 2022 season with a 21-10 overall record and an appearance in the state semifinals, where they fell to St. Thomas Aquinas by a score of 9-0.  The Knights will have to replace several key guys from last year's team that include SS/RHP Luke Hill and OF/RHP Stewart Bonnecaze, who have now moved on to the college ranks.  Head Coach Travis Bourgeois understands there will be some growing pains, with only three guys returning with varsity experience, but he believes that this group's youth and enthusiasm are definite strengths of the team.  One of those returning guys that he's excited to have back is junior Walker Dauzat.  The two-way prospect, started at third base last season, and is a reliable and steady defender, who finished the year hitting .389.  Dauzat is also the only returning pitcher from last year's team, as he logged a total of 6 innings in 2022.  Sophomore Chase Cresson earned the starting catching job last year and is back for another year of action.  Coach Bourgeois describes Cresson as a very good defensive player, who the team will rely on this year to lead their offense and he will also be used on the mound.  A young guy who contributed last season, that is back this year, is sophomore Brody Bailey.  As a freshman last season, Bailey was used as a courtesy runner and a defensive replacement, but the Knights are expecting more out of him this spring, as he will have to contribute both on the mound and at the plate.  Episcopal's biggest challenger in district play will be rival Dunham, whom the Knights beat in a best of three quarterfinal playoff series last year.  They'll also have to compete against Dunham in the Select Division III playoff bracket, as well as programs such as St. Thomas Aquinas, Ouachita Christian, and St. Charles.  The Knights have their work cut out for them with having to replace a lot of key pieces from last year's semifinal team, but they do have a couple of returners at key positions, so we expect them to be at their best towards the end of the regular season heading into the playoffs.

 

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