2026 CENLA Baseball Season Previews

by Marshall Loeffler

ALEXANDRIA – Pineville head baseball coach Cullen Guerriero feels his team is poised to build on recent playoff runs as they enter the 2026 high school baseball season. Knowing that the Division I Select will always be among the best, a core of experienced returners leading the charge and an emphasis on high-energy, up-tempo play will be the gameplan early on. When Guerriero looks back on recent postseasons against unquestioned title contenders, he finds excitement about the opportunities ahead for his squad as they blend veteran leadership with fresh talent.

“Last year we lost in the second round to Brother Martin, who was eventually the runner-up,” Guerriero said. “The year before we lost to Catholic Baton Rouge in the second round, who won the state championship. So, two years in a row there in the second round we faced the best in the state. We lost five seniors from last year and all five of them started and had huge roles.” The Rebels return four everyday starters from last year’s all-District 2-5A squad, while five positions remain open for competition. Leading the Rebels are the top two playoff starting pitchers from a year ago:

• Austyn Taylor, a first-team all-district selection, led the team in innings while also serving as the leadoff hitter and playing multiple positions
• Wyatt Griffith, an all district honorable mention players as a sophomore, tossed nearly 50 innings in 2025
• Kameron Roller caught nearly every inning as a newcomer last season and now gets the green light to pitch as well
• The middle of the order gets a boost from multi-position standout Demetrius Bowie, who manned first base last year and could shift to the outfield while also batting in big spots

Austin Taylor and Wyatt Griffith will be counted on to lead the pitching staff. “Those two guys… one and two starting pitchers in the playoffs… Combined for over 100 innings pitched last year. That’s important moving into this year,” Guerriero noted. Kameron Roller has teammates that can help a catcher this year; “A big goal this year is to allow him to pitch. He wasn’t able to pitch last year because he spent so much time behind the plate.” Offensively, the Rebels returning starters bring a lot of experience in the top to middle of the lineup.

A senior class of six provides the leadership backbone: Taylor, Bowie, Nick Hayward (versatile infielder/outfielder with pitching upside), Garrett Jackson (three year starting outfielder), Kaden Henry (transfer with varsity mound experience), and Ryan Ingram (utility player with spot-start at-bats).”These six guys are very high motor players, play with a lot of energy, so we are trying to use that as a tool to play with that identity: fast uptempo baseball. A lot of them can run hustle is a big word with us, that sets the tone,” Guerriero emphasized.

The schedule prioritizes local rivalries, which Guerriero hopes to build community excitement and sharpen the team early. It features a three-game weekend series with top-tier program Tioga, a home-and-home with Buckeye, and matchups against strong local programs in the Red River Classic tournament, along with some south LA tournaments.”A big thing with scheduling… I want to get those matchups in central Louisiana…we don’t have to travel far to see good baseball, and it’s great for our community,” Guerriero said. With proven arms at the top of the rotation, experienced bats in key spots, and a senior-led culture that leads the entire roster, the Rebels aim to push past the second round and contend in one of the state’s toughest brackets.