By: William Weathers
Written For the LSWA
The theme of the teams for this year’s Class 1A Coaches of the Year in both baseball and softball was one of resilience.
Central Catholic of Morgan City’s Brent Hidalgo took his No. 16 team a year after a loss in the opening round of the playoffs, guiding the Eagles to the Division IV state select semifinals.
Hidalgo was named the Class 1A Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Central Catholic, which replaced eight seniors from 2025, overcame a 1-7 start and 4-9 record and finished 19-16 after its loss to eventual state champion Ouachita Christian.
Grand Lake’s Ryan Monceaux took a team with three seniors to the school’s first state semifinal since 2013, advancing to the Division IV non-select contest against eventual state champion Oak Grove.
Monceaux earned top honors for the job he did, leading No. 11 Grand Lake (18-8) to consecutive non-select playoff upsets of No. 6 Mangham and No. 3 Lakeside. The Lady Hornets began the season 4-4 and reeled off 11 wins over their last 14 games of the regular season.
St. John of Plaquemine senior Charli Neumann, a two-time, first team Class 1A All-State selection, earned Most Outstanding Player award in softball, while junior pitcher Kade Luker of Cedar Creek was baseball’s top recipient.
Neumann, a South Alabama signee, was the District 8-1A MVP, improved her offensive production across the board. She batted .605, with 61 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 17 home runs, 12 doubles and three triples. The Lady Eagles (19-12) lost to eventual champion Riverside in the Division IV select state quarterfinals.
Luker, an LSU commitment, helped Cedar Creek to a 27-6 record and state select semifinals. The hard-throwing, lefthander, went 10-1 with a 1.04 ERA with 135 strikeouts, 11 earned runs and 19 walks in 74 innings.
Class 1A Baseball Team
Pos Player School Cl Rec/Avg
P – Mason Dudek, Covenant Christian, Sr., 12-2
P – Kade Luker, Cedar Creek, Jr., 10-1
P – Jayce Ruiz, Riverside, Sr., 7-2
P – Peyton Vizena, St. Edmund, Sr., 8-2
C- Peyton Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr., .392
INF – Keaton Cason, Logansport, Sr., .451
INF – Brandon Guagliardo, Central Catholic, Fr., .358
INF – A.J. Lavespere, St. Mary’s, Sr., .346
INF – Maden Rodriguez, Central Catholic, So. .366
OF – Ryan Coleman, Cedar Creek, Jr., .359
OF – Nate Loupe, Covenant Christian, Jr., .388
OF – Myka Nipple, Catholic-Pointe Coupee, Jr., .425
UT – Myles Collins, Opelousas Catholic, Jr., .394
UT – Law Faulk, Grand Lake, So., 6-1
UT – Owen O’Neil, St. Frederick, Sr., .380
UT – Owen Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr., .391
UT – Brody Vicknair, Riverside, Jr., .449
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Kade Luker, Cedar Creek
COACH OF THE YEAR: Brent Hidalgo, Central Catholic
Honorable mention
Vaughn Blanchard, Ascension Catholic; Luke Brignac, Ascension Christian; Blaize Brister, Merryville; Winn Cedars, St. Mary’s; Cy Crowson, St. John; Landon Daigle, St. John; Gavin Edwards, Montgomery; Tyler Edwards, St. John; Jaxon Frederick, Centerville; Kross Gillen, Opelousas Catholic; Parker Gros, Central Catholic; Riley Hebert, Centerville; Carter Hotard, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; David Irwin, Central Catholic; King Jones, Logansport; Mason Jordan, Montgomery; Cy Landry, Ascension Catholic; Luke Leaumont, St. Frederick; Cole Mirante, Merryville; Jude Morrison, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Haidyn Nelson, St. Mary’s; Preston Peebles, Ascension Episcopal; Lanny Reed, St. Edmund; Gabe Savarese, St. Martin’s; Alex Scheuermann, St. Martin’s; William Simon, Vermilion Catholic; Luke Spangler, Centerville; Carter Stelly, Opelousas Catholic; Landon Underwood, Central Catholic; Owen Vacarella, Hanson; Johnny Viallon, Ascension Catholic; Connor Yates, Cedar Creek.
Class 1A Softball Team
Pos Player School Cl Rec/Avg
P – Kamryn Cancienne, Riverside, Sr., 22-6
P – Ava Gauthe, Ascension Catholic, Sr., 17-9
P – Landry Long, LaSalle, So., 23-2
P – Ainsley Morvan, Logansport, So., 15-9
C – Brynn Beard, Merryville, So., .563
INF – Gabi Brown, Glenbrook Academy, .524
INF – Charli Neumann, St. John, Sr., .605
INF – Olivia St. Pierre, Riverside, So., .477
INF – Bella Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr., .559
OF – Sophie Crochet, Ascension Catholic, Sr., .475
OF – Avery Houser, St. Frederick, Sr., .418
OF – Bayli Melancon, Riverside, So., .447
UT – Alaina Beard, Grand Lake, Sr., 13-5
UT – Camille DeGravelle, St. Frederick, So., .380
UT – Sanaa Lyles, Plain Dealing, Sr, .630
UT – Kinley Morris, LaSalle, Sr., .512
UT – Grace Wren, St. Mary’s, Sr., 17-6
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Charli Neumann, St. John
COACH OF THE YEAR: Ryan Monceaux, Grand Lake
Honorable mention
Emmarie Atkins, Logansport; Ally Atwood, Delta Charter; Hydi Boyd, Cedar Creek; Addy Brown, Central Private; Tyonnah Burton, St. Mary’s; Addie Clampit, St. Frederick; Karson Davis, Covenant Christian; Emma Delatte, Ascension Catholic; Onnie Doucet, Hanson; Kaleigh Evans, Covenant Christian; Sofie Green, Plain Dealing; Anna-Maria Gros, Central Catholic; Heidi Harrison, St. Frederick; Gracie Heard, Glenbrook Academy; Sophie Hedrick, Delta Charter; Malorie LaCaze, St. Mary’s; Ava Lantrip, Cedar Creek; Avery McCartney, Central Private; Lawson Olinde, Catholic-PC; Emma Pitre, Hanson; Addison Quick, Covenant Christian; Mia Richard, Grand Lake; Averie Ryals, Central Catholic; Zoie Scully, Central Catholic; Mia Sisco, Westminster Christian-Lafayette; Kennedi Smith, Logansport; Brooklyn Steward, Merryville; Hallie Sutton, Glenbrook; Ava Taylor, Delta Charter; Hannah Thevis, Grand Lake; Madison Trahan, Grand Lake; Presley Wall, Cedar Creek.