The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state.  Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Louisiana.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Sulphur, LA, home of the LHSAA State Championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality.  We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Louisiana.  We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, followed by our Power 25 Rankings release, and our popular Game of the Week segment. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the bayou state.  Each week, we will be releasing our players of the week, updating our Power 25 Rankings, and many more pieces of content.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School Name: Pineville

Head Coach: Cullen Guerriero

Classification: Class 5A (Select D-I)

District: 2-5A

2023 Record: 23-13

2023 Playoff Finish: State Semifinalist

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4

No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

Team Strengths: Athleticism & Versatility

Top Returning Players: 2024 C Matt Warden (LSU-Alexandria), 2024 UTIL Jayden Paul, 2024 RHP Blade Barrett, 2025 RHP Matt Edwards, 2025 1B West Oates, 2025 RHP Justin Rachal, 2025 UTIL Aiden Ordner

Top Newcomers: 2025 MIF Noah Zell, 2025 OF Cohen Hardy, 2026 LHP/OF Garrett Jackson

 

Team Outlook

Pineville finished the 2023 season with a 23-13 overall record.  The Rebels entered the LHSAA Select D-I playoffs as the #6 and earned a first-round bye.  They then defeated #11 seed Acadiana in the second round, before upsetting #3 seed Alexandria in the quarterfinals, winning games two and three of the series to advance to the LHSAA state tournament, which was their first state tournament appearance since 1985.  Pineville put up a hard fight in their semifinal matchup against #2 seed Jesuit, but ended up losing to the Blue Jays by a score of 6-4.  Head Coach Cullen Guerriero likes this year's team, as he describes them as a hard-working group that are constantly working on their craft.  The Rebels will also have one of their tougher schedules in recent memory, as Coach Guerriero wants his team to grow and develop throughout the course of the season, so that they are playing their best baseball come playoff time.  Pineville does return some experience off of last year's semifinal team, as the Rebels bring back four position players and four pitchers from a season ago.  Seniors Matt Warden and Jayden Paul are two of those returners who will likely hit in the middle of the Rebels order, and both are expected to have a big year.  Junior Aiden Ordner blossomed into the team's #2 starter on the mound last season and came up big during the playoffs, as he posted a 0.43 ERA during the postseason.  Junior Wes Oates earned 1st team All-District honors last year, and is expected to have an even bigger season this spring.  Senior Blade Barrett, juniors Matt Edwards, Justin Rachal, and Austyn Taylor, along with sophomore Garrett Jackson are all expected to contribute on the mound and log meaningful innings this season.  Coach Guerriero was able to turn the tide in 2023 with the Rebels making a magical run to their first state tournament appearance in over 30 years.  Pineville fans can expect to see a tough team that is going to play extremely hard, run the bases well, and compete at the plate.  We look for the Rebels to build on the success of a season ago and to once again be a contender come playoff time this spring.

 

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