Barbe: No. 6 in 2014 Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings

A bad hop here, a single through the infield there and the Barbe Buccaneers might have been the national champions in 2013. As it was, Glenn Cecchini's crew came up short in the third round of the Louisiana Class 5A state playoffs, falling to West Monroe 13-4 to finish the year at 36-4.

The loss to West Monroe was the one misstep by a team that had won its previous five games by shutout and had only three other losses, all by one run each. But perhaps that one hardship has strengthened the Buccaneers, a team Cecchini says is very close and determined to be one of the best in the country.

"This group has genuine love for one another," said Cecchini. "It has chemistry, experience, toughness, humility, a burning desire to excel in everything. The starting lineup has a 3.8 combined GPA."

Blessed with eight players who could play at the next level, Barbe begins the 2014 season ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings. MaxPreps is currently counting down its top 10 with the Top 100 to be posted on Feb. 21. See the Top 10 teams landing page here



For Barbe, being nationally ranked is nothing new. The Buccaneers were ranked in the top 10 for much of last year and have won six state championships since 1998, most recently in 2012. Barbe has also been ranked as the top team in the country, finishing No. 1 in a national poll in 2008.

Coach Cecchini has sent numerous players on to the college and minor league ranks over the years, including his own sons Garin and Gavin. So he knows a few things about baseball talent. When he says that this year's Barbe team could be one of the best he's ever coached, you sit up and take notice.

The reason for Cecchini's optimism is the high number of players expected to play college ball. Leading the group is LSU commit Beau Jordan, a left fielder who could also be one of six Barbe players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Another possible draft pick? Beau's twin brother Bryce, who missed all of last season with an injury but was a two-year starter at catcher prior to his junior season. Like Beau, Bryce has committed to play at LSU.

Despite losing District MVP Sloan Dieter to graduation, the pitching staff returns a ton of wins, including 17 combined from the trio of Erin Baldwin (7-0), Gunner Leger (6-0) and Trevor Beauboef (4-1). Cecchini is also excited about a pair of freshmen in Adam Goree and Slate Fuller, both of whom already throw in the low to mid-80s.

The infield looks solid with returning all-district second baseman Braden Comeaux, shortstop and two-sport star Kennon Fontenot (he threw for over 10,000 career yards in football) and Braedon Barrett at third base.

In the outfield, sophomore phenom Garrett Williams, who has major Division I offers according to Cecchini, joins Beau Jordan and senior Nicholas Abshire, a Division I prospect who has a 30 ACT and will likely concentrate on academics in college. Also returning is Shane Shelman who batted .400 last year as a junior.



View a gallery of Barbe preseason photo shoot {PAGEBREAK}
School size: Louisiana Class 5A


Enrollment: 1,938 (8-12)


2013 finish: 36-4, Class 5A quarterfinalist


Head coach: Glenn Cecchini


Career record: 721-166 (unofficial)


Years at school: 28 years




Notable MLB players:

Joe Lawrence (1996-2003)

Wade LeBlanc (2004-2013)

Josh Prince (2007-2013)

Gavin Cecchini (Drafted No. 12 overall by New York Mets in 2012)

Garin Cecchini (Drafted fourth round by Boston in 2010)



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No. of starters returning: 8

Top loss:

Sloan Dieter, P, District 3-5A MVP

Key returners:

Gunner Leger, Senior, P, 6-0, 2.04 ERA, committed to University of Louisiana-Lafeyette

Erin Baldwin, Senior, P, 7-0, 1.80 ERA, committed to University of Houston



Braden Comeaux, Junior, 2B, .314 average, committed to TCU

Kennon Fontenot, Senior, SS, .393 average, committed to Oklahoma State

Braedon Barrett, Senior, 3B, .340 average, committed to Northwestern State

Beau Jordan, Senior, LF, .466 average, committed to LSU

Trevor Beauboef, Junior, P, 4-1 record, 1.48 ERA

Garrett Williams, Sophomore, CF, .250 average



Nicholas Abshire, Senior, RF, .306 average

Bryce Jordan, Senior, C, missed junior year due to injury, .375 career hitter, committed to LSU

Shane Selman, Junior,


Key newcomers:

Adam Goree, Freshman, LHP, 83-84 mph fastball

Slate Fuller, Freshman, RHP/C, 82-85 mph fastball{PAGEBREAK}
Toughest game: The Buccaneers' toughest opponents, according to Cecchini, will be Sulphur, Zachary, defending state champion Catholic (Baton Rouge) and Jesuit.



Local outlook: The Class 5A playoffs didn't go quite as expected last year with No. 21 Catholic (Baton Rouge) battling through the bracket and taking advantage of West Monroe's win over No. 1 seed Barbe in the third round to capture the state championship. Barbe figures to be the favorite again this year, however Catholic, and last year's runnerup Zachary, could also be improved.

Overall outlook: Barbe has a tough preseason that includes four tournaments. Tournament play generally stretches a team's pitching staff to its limits, so a strong showing during tournament play in February and March, and league play in April, could put Barbe in contention for a seventh state championship, and a possible No. 1 national ranking in May.

Coach quote: "Every day is a gift and a blessing to be with and coach this team. We truly love one another and love endures forever."
- Glenn Cecchini