After two summers of playing summer baseball together as part of the Hahnville and Destrehan have split off into their own separate teams in 2025.
While Destrehan remains under the River Parish Renegades team banner the two teams shared previously, the Hahnville squad has formed the Boutte Bengals, which is set for tournament play each weekend through the end of June. The Bengals began play over the weekend at UNO and will be at Southeastern for the I-10 East-West Showdown, which will also feature Destrehan and St. Charles Catholic.
To begin the summer slate, the team lost a pair of tight games, one to Gibbs Construction (a mix of graduated seniors and college freshmen from the River Region) and another to NOCA 17U (a mix of players from around the New Orleans area).
Hahnville head coach Jared Vial said while some of the Tigers are playing with other travel teams this summer and/or splitting time with HHS, the summer slate will be very valuable in determining the front-runners to man some positions of need for next year’s prep Tigers.
The biggest need, Vial said, is at catcher.
“We need someone to step up to catch and what we see this summer is going to help us determine that,” Vial said. “We’re looking for another infielder and another outfielder. And really, some more bats. We have some guys we know we can trust – Koa Romero, Kaleb Guarisco, Landen Teague – who can give us that consistent production. It’s a matter now of finding some guys who can add to that as well.”
Some of the players who have been putting in good work so far include sophomore (for the 25-26 school year) Austin Sanchez, sophomore Noah Hogan, senior Parker Mosley and junior Matthew Plaisance.
Sanchez built on a strong summer in 2024 by earning playing time for Hahnville as a freshman and making an impact over the final games of this year’s prep season.
“He’s one we plugged in who really set the tone for us over the last couple of games,” said Vial. “He came through there at the end, got his opportunity as a freshman. He matured a lot. We’re looking for big things from him.”
On the mound, Plaisance and senior-to-be Aven Whitney are two pitchers who garnered experience last season – “two guys who threw between 35 and 50 innings for us, returning,” Vial said – who are going to see expanded roles this summer.
That also goes for senior Ja’Vonte Gray, who the Tigers will look toward to make a big impact as a starter. Gray, a towering 6’6 pitcher with a live arm, is committed to Nicholls State.
“We’re trying to get him to feel that confidence,” Vial said. “He’s committed to Nicholls and that might take that pressure off, knowing where you’re headed after high school. We’re looking to him to step up and lead our staff, be our ace.”
Vial said he has the tools to do just that.
“He has things you can’t teach,” Vial said. “6’6, long arms and he throws upper 80s and low 90s. Colleges love seeing a guy like that. He’s working to find more consistency on the mound and staying in the zone to take that next step.”
The 5-3 loss to Gibbs saw a strong game from Luke Eusea at the plate, as the first baseman drove in two runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. Kaleb Ducote walked twice and scored two runs. Luke Heiden was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Whitney started for Hahnville, going the complete game and allowing five runs on six hits. He struck out four on the day.
Cameron DeRoche went 1-for-3 with two RBIs for Gibbs, which includes a few local alums including former Tiger Ryan Gregson and former Destrehan players Payton Stubbs and Jack Conravey. Stubbs pitched 1.2 perfect innings, striking out three. Conravey allowed two runs and four hits over 1.1 innings.
