By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports

Featuring a squad that returned eight starters and 14 seniors off last year’s state runner-up team, the Menard Eagles had high expectations for a state championship in 2024. 

While they fell short of the goal, losing to St. Charles 1-0 in the semifinals, the Eagles boasted the claim of being top dogs among Rapides Parish baseball teams this past season.

They defeated Alexandria Senior High, Buckeye and Pineville at the Terry Mathews Memorial Tournament in late February and early March before knocking off Tioga in early April and sweeping Glenmora in District 4-2A action, finishing the season 6-0 against parish teams and 23-9 on the year. 

So it’s no surprise Menard leads the way with four selections, including the top two pitchers in seniors Coen Laroux and Cooper Scott, on the Rapides Parish Journal’s 2024 All-Parish Baseball Team. 

ASH placed three players on the 15-man squad that features four pitchers, eight position players, a designated hitter and two utility players. 

Buckeye, Grace Christian and Pineville each had two selections on the team, while Glenmora and Tioga had one selection apiece. 

Below is the list of All-Parish selections along with their season accolades as well as an alphabetical listing of the next 15 players chosen as “Best of the Rest.” 

Pitcher: Adam Brodnax, Jr., Buckeye – Despite not pitching in February due to basketball season, Brodnax finished with a 6-1 record and a 0.40 ERA in 10 starts, throwing four complete games and two shutouts. He only gave up 28 total hits while striking out 52 batters in 52 ⅔ innings. At the plate, Brodnax batted .274 with three doubles, two triples, 11 runs and 19 RBIs.

Pitcher: Ben Eskew, Sr., ASH – The Trojans’ ace and senior right-hander finished the season with an 8-3 record and a 3.77 ERA, earning first-team all-district in District 2-5A and Academic All-State. During the playoffs, Eskew went 2-0, giving up just one earned run in 13 ⅔ innings as the Trojans finished one win shy of Sulphur.

Pitcher: Coen Laroux, Sr., Menard – The Eagles’ No. 1 starter and Centenary signee led them in appearances, starts and innings pitched, getting the ball in most of the team’s biggest games, including the 1-0 semifinal loss to St. Charles, when he pitched a two-hitter. Laroux finished the season with a 6-5 record, 1.91 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched while batting .291 with four doubles, a triple, 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored.

Pitcher: Cooper Scott, Sr., Menard – The All-Parish Most Outstanding Player, the LSUE signee was lights-out on the mound, finishing with a 9-0 record, 1.02 ERA and one save in 12 appearances. He gave up just 13 total runs, including nine earned, and struck out 59 batters in 62 innings. When he wasn’t pitching, Scott found a home in right field and shook off an early-season slump to finish with a .292 batting average, eight doubles, five triples, three home runs and 20 RBIs while leading the team with 24 walks, 33 runs and 23 stolen bases. 

Catcher: Ben Wade, Sr., Menard – The College of the Desert (California) signee returns for a second straight season on the All-Parish team after batting .300 with three doubles, one triple and 15 RBIs while making just three errors and throwing out nine runners trying to steal. Wade was batting just .204 through March but was the team’s second-leading hitter with a .444 average in April and May.

First Base: Drake Aldredge, Sr., Menard – The Eagles’ most consistent hitter throughout the season, the Louisiana Christian signee returns for a second straight season as the All-Parish first baseman after leading the Eagles with a .402 batting average, 39 hits, 11 doubles and 26 RBIs while also adding a home run, scoring 13 runs, striking out just six times and making just three errors in 218 chances.

Second Base: Seth Cook, Sr., Grace Christian – An All-Parish selection last season as a pitcher, Cook only threw 16 innings as a senior, striking out 33 batters and giving up just seven hits in compiling a 4-0 record and 0.00 ERA. He spent the majority of the season at second base, batting .365 with nine home runs, two doubles, one triple, 44 RBIs and 32 runs.

Third Base: Caden Extine, So., ASH – Last year’s All-Parish second baseman, Extine found a consistent home at third base as a sophomore, raising his batting average to .341 with eight doubles, two triples and a team-high 31 RBIs.

Shortstop: Cameren Parks, Sr., Glenmora – The LSUA signee and Wildcats’ leadoff hitter batted .440 on the season with 11 doubles, one triple, one home run, 23 stolen bases, 24 RBIs and 45 runs scored while also going 5-0 on the mound with a 1.52 ERA. Coach Aaron West called Parks “the best player I’ve ever coached here in 10 years.”

Outfield: Miguel Magallon, Jr., ASH – The Trojans’ left fielder was their leading hitter on the season, finishing with a .357 batting average, seven doubles, one triple and 19 RBIs while helping the Trojans to the Division I Select quarterfinals. 

Outfield: Alex Morrison, Sr., Tioga – The LSUE signee and two-time first-team all-district selection led the Indians with a .395 batting average, two home runs, five doubles, one triple, 22 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

Outfield: Matt Warden, Sr., Pineville – The LSUA signee switched positions this season, moving from behind the plate to primarily right field while also adding pitching duties. Warden batted a team-leading .357 with eight doubles, five triples, two homers and 16 RBIs despite playing through a broken thumb on his left hand. He also went 3-1 on the mound with a 3.80 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 ⅓ innings pitched.

Designated Hitter: Wes Oates, Jr., Pineville – The parish’s top power hitter took over the role of full-time catcher and built upon his strong sophomore season to become the Rebels’ most potent weapon, finishing the season with a .305 batting average, four doubles, one triple and team-highs of seven homers and 29 RBIs.

Utility: Drew Tyson, Jr., Buckeye – The junior was a true utility guy for the Panthers, spending time on the mound, behind the plate and at shortstop. Tyson finished the season with a 7-3 record and 0.58 ERA while striking out 70 batters and giving up just 43 hits in 60 innings pitched while also batting .333 with six doubles and three triples.

Utility: Kanyon Wright, Jr., Grace Christian – The Warriors’ top pitcher went 8-3 with a 1.51 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched while batting a team-high .452 with 11 home runs, five doubles, 50 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He also walked 34 times and had a .636 on-base percentage.

Best of the Rest 

Maddox Attales, Jr., SS/RHP, Grace Christian 

Blade Barrett, Sr., RHP/1B/C, Pineville

Haidyn Boone, Jr., SS/RHP, Buckeye

Keyan Bordelon, Sr., 2B/RHP, Glenmora

Cody Davis, Sr., C, Grace Christian

Trey Harper, Fr., C, Tioga

Michael Henry, Sr., RHP, Menard

Gavin Hilton, Sr., SS, Menard

Alex Jeansonne, Sr., RHP/3B/SS, Rapides

Jack Lee, Fr., RHP, ASH

Landon Locke, Jr., OF, Oak Hill

Austin McMickin, Jr., RHP/1B/3B, Oak Hill

Jayden Paul, Sr., OF/SS, Pineville

Brayden Rachal, Jr., C, ASH

Ryan Reeves, Jr., 1B, Tioga

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