Four Eagles net Class 1A All-State honors

Four Central Catholic Eagles earned Class 1A All-State honors following a finish in the semifinals this season.
Sophomore Greg Leger and junior Samuel Guarisco were first-team selections at pitcher and infielder, respectively, while sophomore pitcher Blake
Hidalgo and junior centerfielder Stefano Guarisco were honorable mention selections.
“It was good to see us have four guys,” Central Catholic coach Tyler Jensen said. “I think that’s a lot, especially with a semifinal team and not even making it to the finals. I think it says a lot about the respect people have for our program … . It’s a good thing. It rewards our guys for good seasons, for working hard and for things like that.”
Leger finished the season with a 7-1 record, a 0.89 ERA and 81 strikeouts, while Samuel Guarisco, heading into the semifinals, batted .404 with five doubles, two triples, one
home run, 22 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. He also was 5-0 on the mound with a 1.17 ERA.
Hidalgo was 7-0 on the mound with a 1.41 ERA and 53 strikeouts, while Stefano Guarisco batted .401 with three doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs, 32 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
Jensen said that his all-state contingent was all underclassmen, something not lost on him.
“That’s really good to know in the back of my mind and really positive moving forward,” he said.
Below is the complete all-state team:
First Team
Pitcher: Gregory Leger, Central Catholic, sophomore; Connor Bates, Covenant Christian, senior; Aaron George, Ouachita Christian, junior; Phillip Vidrine, Sacred Heart-VP, senior.

Catcher: James Carney, St. Mary’s, senior.

Infield: Ryan Reynolds, Ouachita Christian, junior; Grant Mathews, Country Day, senior; Samuel Guarisco, Central Catholic, junior; Jake Slaughter, Ouachita Christian, junior.

Outfield: Grant Shepherd, Ouachita Christian, junior; Collin Landry, Ascension Catholic, junior; Jacob Luke Lafleur, Sacred Heart, senior.

Utility: Drew Brown, St. Edmund, senior; Jacob Brown, Cedar Creek, senior; Cullen Ledet, Covenant Christian, junior; Cameron Stovall, Hanson Memorial, senior; Brandon Noel, St. John, senior.

Outstanding player
Connor Bates, Covenant Christian

Coach of the year
Scotty Richard, St. Edmund

Honorable mention: Garrett Vienne, St. Mary’s, Tyler McCain, St. Mary’s; Garrett Vienne, St. Mary’s; Justice Arceri, Crescent City; Jase Griffin, Country Day; Michael Hickey, Country Day; Jake Bates, Covenant Christian Academy; Drake Battaglia, Houma Christian School; Gavin Dugas, Houma Christian School; McCade LeBlanc, Houma Christian; Blake Hidalgo, Central Catholic; Brandon Hudspeth, Sacred Heart; Keaton Tate, Sacred Heart; Justice Arceri, Crescent City; Raj Shah, St. Martin’s; Brady Atkins, Montgomery; Hunter Cooley,
East Beauregard; Nick Bellina, Ascension Catholic; Stefano Guarisco, Central Catholic; Wes Gresham, Cedar Creek; Ross Lafleur, St. Edmund; Huff McIntosh, Cedar Creek; Gibson Lafleur, St. Edmund; Desmond McGovern, St. Martin’s.
Additional reporting by www.nola.com.