2026 CENLA Baseball Season Previews
by Marshall Loeffler
The Vikings of Avoyelles Public Charter are leaning into pitching, defense, small-ball execution, and Coach Stu Regard’s deep-rooted culture of servant leadership as they navigate the early stages of the 2026 high school baseball season in Class B. The Vikings skippers enters his 18th season guiding a young but determined group through growing pains and toward continued competitiveness. In his 28th season of coaching, Regard remains steadfast in his philosophy: strong pitching keeps games within reach, defense prevents big innings, and manufacturing runs through fundamentals (like bunting and sacrificing) separates contenders from the pack.
The Vikings opened 2026 with a pair of setbacks—dropping 6-0 to Livonia after surrendering six first-inning runs, then falling 3-0 to Buckeye in a more competitive showing. “We gave up six in the first… there was a lot to learn from that game,” Regard said of the opener, while praising the effort against Buckeye. Experience is somewhat limited this season, with only three or four starting spots fully set from last year. The roster features five seniors who were underclassmen during the program’s 2023-24 state championship runs, and they carry that standard forward as leaders now. Early standouts include:
- Luke Guillory (center field): A holdover from last year who solidifies the outfield.
- Braylen Lacombe (second base): a solid hard working option for the middle infield.
- Trace Addison (catcher): A gritty player willing to make plays and do the dirty work.
- Kade Garrot (third base): Stepping in at the hot corner with potential to stabilize the infield.
- William Miller (pitcher): Delivered a strong debut against Buckeye and hopes to improve from there.
- Carson Lewis (first baseman/pitcher): A defensive anchor at first and a hoped-for rotation piece once healthy.
The pitching staff boasts five to seven arms, but the priority is clear: throw strikes and give the defense work. “If you have good pitching, you can be in any game,” Regard emphasized, a belief he said he’s held for years. Offensively, the Vikings thrive on contact, speed, and small ball—squeezes, bunting, and avoiding strikeouts. “Without that aspect of our offense, we’re not going to be very good,” he noted. Defense demands smart, mistake-free play to back up that pitching staff. The schedule ramps up quickly with the Billy Allgood Classic, hosted for the fifth straight year. The tournament honors Coach Billy Allgood, the program’s founder who placed the first home plate in 2008 and recruited Regard to join.
The regular-season home opener follows against Westminster, with early games against bigger school designed to build toughness in central Louisiana’s competitive small-school landscape. Regard’s overarching mission transcends wins: developing “servant leaders” through self-discipline, accountability, humility in failure, and unselfish play. “You go to the plate 10 times, they’re going to put you out seven out of 10… you’ve got to handle failure,” he said. The coaching staff, Regard’s largest ever, included former players who relate well to the current group while maintaining the standard. Regard and his Vikings are building toward something bigger this spring, one strike, one bunt, and one act of leadership at a time.
