Following one of the best seasons in Hahnville baseball history, the Tigers have an eye n continuing to raise the bar next season.
HHS went 31-8 last season and made a run to the Division I non-select state quarterfinals, winning the District 6-5A crown and at one point nailing down a staggering 20 consecutive victories. As exciting for Hahnville: the team will bring back virtually the entire lineup for the 2027 prep campaign, losing just one everyday senior starter to graduation in Bennett Naquin.
Hahnville has just wrapped up its summer baseball schedule. Tigers head baseball coach Jared Vial said with approximately 25 players in the program who also play football, the Tigers avoided putting together an extensive weekday schedule of games and focused more on weekend tournaments.
HHS put together 18U and 16U rosters for the summer slate. Some Tiger players also have played with travel teams, so plenty of players have had the chance to see playing time – and perhaps earn expanded roles next season.
“The record doesn’t show how our guys have gone out and competed because the competition we’ve played has been really good,” Vial said. It’s a good learning opportunity and we’re definitely answering a lot of questions going into next year.”
Of course, there aren’t many questions surrounding Landen Teague or Koa Romero at all – both have been cornerstone players for the Tigers since their freshman season and each have played travel ball this summer. Teague and Romero will be seniors this school year. Teague has been on fire at the plate this summer – Vial noted he went 10-for-14 last weekend.
“He’s been tearing it up,” Vial said. “I’m sure his phone’s going to be ringing when they’re getting into recruiting. He’s hitting very well.”
Romero, likewise, has had a very summer, building off a season he was named Class 5A’s Most Outstanding Player and District 8-5A MVP – earning those honors through both his work on the mound and with his bat.
Vial also noted Austin Sanchez, who will be a junior, has impressed and hit the ball very well.
“Those guys who went off to play, they’re getting work and I trust them to put in that work,” Vial said. “We have weekly practices, so we still get to see them during the week. But by these guys going off, that allows us to see some of the guys behind them getting that playing time.”
Among the questions the team needed to address this summer was pitching depth. Vial said the Tigers entered the month looking to find three pitchers – and, optimally, two of those being starting pitchers along with a quality reliever.
“We think we’ve found that,” Vial said.
Landon Parrish, who will be a junior, has shined in that starting role over the past three weekends.
“He’s gone at least five innings in every start against some really good teams,” said Vial of the right-hander. “He’s shown that, if we can get this in the spring with our line of defense behind him, he’s going to be big for us.”
Noah Hogan, a fellow junior-to-be, was a reliever for Hahnville during the prep season. Vial said the Tigers were looking for the left-hander to emerge as one of the team’s top relievers for the upcoming season. He’s pitched well, and Vial noted Hogan also has the potential to start.
And Garrett Acosta, who will be a senior, has emerged as a big surprise for Hahnville this summer, Vial said. Acosta played catcher for the team early last season but the right-hander moved to pitcher.
“He’s thrown really well and he’s going deep into games,” Vial said. “I think those three guys have kind of provided those answers, guys we wanted to develop and show that they could be in a starter’s role. So, that’s been good.”
Additionally, the team’s designated hitter spot is currently up for competition, and the Tigers also wanted to also find who can provide a spark off the bench. Vial gave a nod to Will Hogan and Gage Morales, a senior and junior respectively, as two players who have stepped up this summer.
“(Hogan’s) been swinging it really well,” Vial said. “And Morales, he’s shown he competes in the batter’s box and hits it hard. He’s not afraid to get hit by a pitch – he’s got five or six this summer. He doesn’t get out the way.”
And Ty Summers, Vial said, has taken a step forward in his baserunning and has shown he can help his team in that department.
Vial said that one good thing about the experienced team returning off of a strong season is that the expectations are understood with those players – and those players set the example for the Tigers’ younger guard.
“Our main guys understand that, they get it, they were in the dugout and they’ve seen it,” said Vial. “They are bought in and they understand we’re not satisfied with a quarterfinal finish. And they’re just constantly trying to find those guys who are going to come up to that level and join us next year on varsity – show up every day, have a good work ethic, not make excuses and have that tough mindset.”
