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: Westlake High School

-Coach’s Name: Blake Reed

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

-District: 3-3A

-No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8

-No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

-Team Strengths: Offense and Baserunning 

-Top Returning Players: 2023 MIF Jace Dawson, 2023 OF/RHP Treylon Brown, 2025 MIF Kash Martin, 2025 OF/RHP Yahir Alejandro Pagan, 2025 C/OF Gunner Robertson

 

 

Team Outlook

Westlake finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 19-20-1 and made it to the second round of the LHSAA Class 3A playoffs, before falling to West Feliciana in the second round.  Excitement should be high for the Rams heading into the 2023 season, as they return 8 starters on offense and 4 arms on the mound.  Head Coach Blake Reed believes the strengths of this year's team will be their dynamic and explosive offense, as well as their team speed and ability to run the bases.  Leading the Rams offense will be senior Jace Dawson, who really turned the corner last spring.  Coach Reed told us that going into 2022, he and the coaching staff had hoped that he would develop into a middle of the order type of guy, but he far exceeded their expectations, as he was the team's leadoff hitter from Week 3 on throughout the rest of the season.  Dawson finished 2022 hitting .352 with a HR, 7 2B, and 4 3B, to go along with 34 SB.  He's also a dependable strike-thrower on the mound, who will help the Rams pitching staff in 2023.  Fellow senior Treylon Brown returns this season as well and is in line to be the everyday left fielder, but will also log a lot of innings on the mound as well.  Brown has a live arm and had some control issues last year, but he's had a great summer and fall camp, working his FB in the 80-83 mph range with a sharp, late-biting breaking ball with swing and miss potential.  Coach Reed is also excited to have the sophomore trio of Kash Martin, Gunner Robertson, and Yahir Alejandro Pagan back, after all three started every game as freshmen last season.  Martin will be the team's everyday shortstop and has a high baseball IQ, as he's always thinking ahead and does a great job of communicating and "quarterbacking" the defense.  Offensively, he was more of a contact guy last spring, but his work in the weight room this off-season should pay off, as he's got more power potential this year.  He will also be relied upon on the mound as well.  Robertson, a catcher by trade, started in centerfield last year as a freshman thanks to his high-level of athleticism and really good arm.  He'll move behind the plate this year, and will also see time on the mound when he's not catching.  Pagan, is a "baseball rat", who is constantly working in the cages to refine his craft.  Coach Reed told us that Pagan is "probably the best pure hitter" that he's had in his time, since he's been at Westlake.  He's also another utility guy, who will see time in the outfield, corner infield, and on the mound.  The newly formed District 3-3A looks to be an ultra-competitive league this spring, with the likes of Iowa, Kinder, Jennings, South Beauregard, and St. Louis Catholic, who won a state title in 2021.  The Rams will then compete in the Non-Select Division III playoffs where they will go to battle with programs such as Sterlington (2021 3A State Champion, Rosepine (2021 & 2022 2A State Champion), Doyle, Loreauville, Springfield, and Berwick.  Westlake was a young team last season, but those young guys are back after gaining valuable experience.  We look for the Rams to take another step forward in 2023.  This group looks to have the pieces to make a deeper run in the playoffs, which means they will be knocking on the door of a possible state tournament appearance come early May.  

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