March in the River Parishes not only means playoffs for high school basketball teams, but also means the start of baseball season. Here is a look at what fans can expect this season from the boys of spring.

East St. John High School

Coming off a dissapointing 3-27 record (1-13 district) in 2002, the East St. John Wildcats can only improve on what was a dismal year.

“We were very young and inexperienced,” was how head coach Mackey Waguespack described the difficult season. The Wildcats return eight starters from last year’s team and will be looking for improvement. Alex McCollum, Greg Sentimore, Theo Variste, P.J. Millet, Ryan Perrilloux, Steven Perrilloux, Dominick Thomas, and Kenny Robertson will all be counted on to make an impact this season.

” I expect these guys to step up and be leaders. They are much improved after playing this past Summer,” explained Waguespack.

McCollum, Thomas and Ronald Marshall will likely be three pitchers that will fit into the Wildcat rotation this year. Waguespack describes them “Quality starters.” With Hahnville and Destrehan twice on their schedule, things won’t be easy for Waguespack’s team.

” District 6-5A is always strong. I feel this is one of the most competitve districts year after year,” observed Waguespack.

Finally, the head coach said he thinks his club will definatley have a more productive year.

” I feel this guys are ready to start playing and competiting game to game. Look for the Wildcats to surprise a few teams this season,” concluded Waguespack.

The Wildcats open up the regular season against

South Terrebonne (February 25) at home.

Riverside Academy

The Riverside Rebels are coming off a fantastic 2002, winning the 9-2A title. A 27-7 record last year was a result of good hitting and “OK pitching,” according to RA head coach Davey Clement. Five returning starters (Scott Poirrier, DJ Fortenberry, Dexter Falgoust, Jordan Remondet, Trent Malbrough) will lead the Rebels attack this year.

” I feel great about these guys. I expect them to lead the way for us,” Clement said.

The head coach has non-district scheduled games with St. Charles Catholic, St. James High School and Ridgewood High School. The Rebels also will participate in the St. Charles Catholic Tournament (February 28 and March 1) and the Lutcher Tournament (March 7-9). In addition, Newman and Fisher will likely be the top two teams the Rebels will need to contend with. AJ Delaneuville, Lee Haydel, Jordan Poirrier, and basketball star Josh Labiche are all players that are capable of making a large impact in the future and will see some playing time this year, according to Clement.

“We should be pretty good, but each year you always need a little luck. I hope we can get it (Luck).”

St. James High School

First year head coach Shane Trosclair is inheriting a team that went 12-13 last year (6-6 district) and lost to St. Louis High School in the second round of the playoffs. The Wildcats have five returning starters back on this year’s roster.

” Blake Falgoust, Jake Falgoust, Thadeous Sutherland, David Johnson and Edmond Morton are my returning starters. I expect leadership and a great year from them,” said Trsoclair.

With Steib, Johnson, and Blake Falgoust in the starting rotation, things appear to be bright this year for the Wildcats, according to Trosclair. Non-district games for SJHS include Ascension Catholic (Feb. 25) and Riverside (March 3).

“I think these games will help build our confidence and get us ready for a competitve district race,” Trosclair added.

Lionel Keller, Javon Keller, and Jerome Lewis are all likely to become impact players over the next couple of years.

“I expect good things this year, if we work hard,” concluded Trosclair.

Destrehan High School

Destrehan head coach Marty Luquet hopes to recapture the magic his team had last season. The Wildcats finished with an overall record of 24-7 with a consecutive game-winning streak of 18 games. The defending 6-5A champions posted a 14-0 district record and had the first undefeated district championship since 1965.

This years squad features returning starters Fred Smith, Craig Eugene, Keith Johnson and Rustin Rebowe. The Wildcats starting pitching features Beau Jones, who had a 6-1 record last year, Andrew Lassere, who had 50 strikeouts and 19 walks last year, and Brandon Maggiore, a 6-foot-2 righthander who best pitch, according to Luquet is “a nasty curveball.” Non-district schedule includes games against Rummel High School, Brother Martin High School and Jesuit High School. The Blue Jays knocked out Destrehan in last years playoffs.

” We have got one of the toughest non-district schedules in the state. Out of the 17 teams, 15 of them made the playoffs last year,” Luquet said. As expected, there is a great deal of optomism heading into this year.

” With four of the top players in the New Orleans area returning, I think the Wildcats are an early season pick to return to the 8-team State Tournament in New Iberia.”

St. Charles Catholic

The Comets are looking forward to improving on their 2002 performance. The defending 10-3A district champions feature returning starters Chris Cancienne, Michael Bonura and Jeremy Catoire to their line-up this year.

“I expect Chris Cancienne to lead this year’s team,” said SCC Paul Waguespack.

A difficult pre-district schedule awaits the Comets.

Games against Archbishop Shaw, Holy Cross, Northshore, Riverside (twice), East St. John and Jennings will be used as an early season measuring stick for Waguespack. He describes the 10-3A district this season as “very good and very competitve. I think E.D White, Lutcher, SCC or St. James can win it.”

Waguespack is excited about this year’s overall outlook.

“This should be a challenging season. I hope that a tough pre-district gets us ready for district. Hopefully, we can get to heat up early.”

West St. John

West St. John head coach Lennix Madere is trying to get a solid baseball program established at the Edgard school. He thinks this year will be the start of many good years to come.

“I think for the first time since I have been here, we have players that want to play. Not just bodies sitting on the bench.”

Madere describes the reason behind his teams 7-12 performance in 2002 as being “very young.”

“I also think we just were not developing the talent we needed.” The Rams head coach, who is entering his fifth season, is very pleased with the current situation.

“I am happy because I have two excellent assistants (Greg Joseph and Grant Pierre). In the past, I would have assistants that would only be here for one year and then leave. I feel that Greg and Grant are committed to helping the program.”

Returning starters for the Rams are Jamal Cox, Vernon Fernell and Initius Howard. Cox is described by his coach as a “good infielder and good hitter.”

Starting pitchers include Marcus Islam and Tremaine Hall.

“I am very confortable and confident with the players I have,” Madere said.

He added that 2-A will be a diificult district this year. During Madere’s first season as coach, the Rams competed against St. Charles Catholic, Riverside, Newman and Ridgewood.

“Those teams were the top 2A teams in the state that year.” Now, he feels that if WSJ can close the gap between Fisher and Buras, then his club will be fine.

“I am confident we can make a run for the title,” said Madere.

Lutcher

Lutcher High School head coach Scott Tribble is expected to be one of the top teams in 10-3A this season. With excellent starting pitchers, such as Randy Waguespack and Bryce Matherne, the Bulldogs expect to have another solid season. Top hitters for the Bulldogs include Jonathan Oubre, Justin Mitchell and Matherne.

Not only will the Bulldogs have a tough district schedule, but also a tough non-district schedule. They will play Riverside Academy (twice), H.L Bourgeois and Ellender.

“In the past we have started out fast and faded near the end of the season. I hope that doesn’t happen again,” Tribble said.