Cardinals reload to again become Class 3A power

E.D. White Catholic annually boasts one of the strongest baseball programs in the state, having reached no less than the state semifinals in three of the past four seasons.

This year, the Cardinals aren’t so much in rebuilding mode as they are reloading.

A quick look at their overall record through the early part of the season and it may not look as if the team has missed much of a beat from last season, but in truth the Cardinals have had to replace quite a few players from a squad that was one win shy of a Class 3A state championship a year ago.

E.D. White lost eight players to graduation last year, including what was arguably the best pitcher-catcher tandem in the state in right-hander Scott Szush and backstop Logan Barbera, both of whom are now playing college ball.

Besides those two key figures, the Cardinals also lost first baseman/pitcher Payton Coddou, shortstop Brett Duet, designated hitter B.J. Gros, and their entire starting outfield of Jace Toups, Michael Waguespack and Nick Falgout.

Replacing a talented and heralded senior class is never easy, but the Cardinals appear to be handling the transition well thus far. After notching three wins in as many days at the annual Tiger-Cardinal Baseball Classic last week, E.D. White entered District 9-3A play this week at 13-2 overall.

Cardinals coach Shane Trosclair said he is proud of the way his team has come together this season.

“They are a bunch of blue-collar guys that come to work,” said Trosclair. “They’re grinders. As far as any weaknesses go, it’s just about staying mentally focused, something we talk about every day. But this group has been busting it every day and getting the job done.”

That was evident last weekend when the Cardinals notched two lopsided victories against area competition at the Tiger-Cardinal Classic.

On Friday night, the Cardinals gradually built a big lead against rival Thibodaux on their way to downing the Tigers, 13-2, in six innings. E.D. White tallied 11 hits in the victory.

The following day, in an 11-4 win over Morgan City, the Cardinals pounced early, getting out to a 9-2 lead midway through the game and never looking back.

The combination of good hitting and solid pitching in those games have the Cardinals on a roll, as they head into district play having won five games in a row and eight of their last nine.

“Coach has always said to try and hit the other way, to sit back on it, and that’s what we’ve been doing,” said senior first baseman/pitcher Justin Theriot. “Our base-running has been good, too, getting runners in scoring position and moving runners over.”

Theriot is one of four seniors in the lineup, and one of seven seniors total on this year’s roster; second baseman Seth Gravois, third baseman Scottie Sanders and catcher Spencer Folse round out the list of seniors playing in the Cardinals’ everyday lineup.

Those four players stepping up, plus the team having the benefit of a strong summer league program, have helped take the sting out of what might otherwise be a big drop-off after losing so many players from a season ago.

“Those (four seniors) are guys with experience that need to step up, but we’re having a lot of guys that got experience over the summer that are stepping up, too,” Trosclair said. “We’ve got some sophomores in the outfield, and Folse is someone I moved from centerfield to catcher and is doing a great job back there.”

“Everybody thought that coming off the players we lost, it was going to be a big downfall, but the new guys have stepped up and have been doing real well,” added Gravois, an all-state selection at second base who batted over .400 a year ago.

Meanwhile, Theriot, senior Brennan Legendre, junior Thomas Legendre, and pitchers Seth Plaisance and Cameron Sanders help make up a Cardinals pitching staff that has looked equally strong of late. The staff had allowed two earned runs or less in three of its last four contests entering the week.

“Those five guys are working together to become one and we’ll take that,” Trosclair said. “They’re doing a great job for us.”

What the Cardinals are hoping for is to eventually get back to the stage they were on a year ago, when they were one victory away from being state champions.

That may not happen this year, but it’s a safe bet that E.D. White as a program will get back there one day.

“Last year, it was expected that we make a run,” said Trosclair. “This year, we’ve got the hunger. We’re still living with the disappointment of losing that (state championship) game, but we’ve got the hunger to be back, and we’ll have the experience once we are back.”