2021 MaxPreps All-America Team: Louisiana pitcher Jack Walker headlines high school baseball's best

Heading into the 2021 high school baseball season, Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) figured to be one of the top teams in Louisiana and the nation. A lot of those expectations, however, would depend on the production of senior pitcher Jack Walker, who would have missed the entire 2020 season — COVID or no COVID — due to an arm injury.

Walker came through in a big way and the Buccaneers were the beneficiaries. Among the national leaders, Walker finished with a 13-0 record and 121 strikeouts in 83.2 innings pitched. On top of that, Walker tossed three no-hitters, including one in the Class 5A semifinals against rival Sam Houston in a 10-inning game that Barbe won 1-0.

Behind the play of Walker, Barbe went 39-2, matching a 2014 school record for wins in a season when the Buccaneers were crowned MaxPreps National Champions. Seven years later and Barbe again earned the MaxPreps National Championship while also seeing Walker named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.

"We are so excited about that. It is just amazing for everyone associated with the program — the players, coaches and administration. Just think about what we overcame as a community and all the state championships in the area."

Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year

2020 — No selection due to COVID
2019 — Bobby Witt Jr., Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas)
2018 — Nolan Gorman, O'Connor (Phoenix)
2017 — Jordan Adell, Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
2016 — Kyle Muller, Dallas Jesuit (Dallas)
2015 — Joe DeMers, College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.)
2014 — Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
2013 — Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake
2012 — Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2011 — Dylan Bundy, Owasso (Okla.)
2010 — Stetson Allie, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
2009 — Matt Hobgood, Norco (Calif.)
2008 — Jake Odorizzi, Highland (Ill.)

Past MaxPreps National Coaches of the Year

2015 — Chan Brown, Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
2014 — Jamie Corr, Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.)
2013 — Richard LaBounty, Pensacola Catholic (Fla.)
2012 — Johnny Goodrich, Spruce Creek (Fla.)
2011 — Shannon Dobson, Broken Arrow (Okla.)
2010 — Charlie Warner, Pace (Fla.)
2009 — Larry Knight, Sumrall (Miss.)
P — Jackson Jobe, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)
6-2 | 190 | Senior
Went 9-0 with a 0.13 ERA while leading Heritage Hall to a Class 4A state championship. He had 122 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched. Also a standout at the plate, the Oklahoma City Oklahoman player of the year and Gatorade honoree batted .469 with 38 RBI, 37 runs and six home runs.

P — Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
6-7 | 230 | Senior
Considered a potential first-round draft pick, he earned all-area player of the year honors by the Sun Sentinel while going 6-1 with a 0.31 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 45.1 innings.

P — Chase Burns, Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
6-4 | 215 | Senior
Burns transferred for his senior season and had an outstanding year. In addition to going 5-1 with 131 strikeouts and a 0.50 ERA in 56.1 innings, he also hit over 100 mph on his fastball during the season. Burns earned All-MidState honors by the Tennessean.

P — Dylan Lesko, Buford (Ga.)
6-3 | 195 | Junior
Ranked as one of the top players in the Class of 2022, he was a big reason Buford was ranked No. 1 for most of the season. He posted an 11-0 record with a 0.35 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 60 innings. He was the Gatorade State Player of the Year and an all-state selection by the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine.
P — Jack Walker, Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
6-0 | 190 | Senior
Walker sat out a year with an arm injury after earning all-state honors as a sophomore. As a senior, he led the Buccaneers to the No. 1 ranking in the nation by going 13-0 with a 0.42 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 83.2 innings. He also had three no-hitters, including a 10-inning game against Sam Houston in the Class 5A state semifinals. Walker was named Mr. Baseball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

P — Jackson Ferris, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
6-4 | 190 | Junior
Tossed a no-hitter in his first outing and followed it up with a perfect game. Had three of the biggest wins of the season, beating Baylor, Jesuit and Calvary Christian Academy. He finished the season 8-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 50.2 innings.

P — Chase Petty, Mainland Regional (Linwood, N.J.)
6-1 | 185 | Senior
One of two pitchers this year (Burns is the other) to see his fastball top 100 mph. Petty earned all-state honors after going 5-1 with a 1.15 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 48.2 innings. He also batted .367 with 32 RBI and four home runs.

P — Christian Becerra, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
6-1 | 170 | Senior
Earned Southern Section Division 1 POY honors and was the pitcher of the year by the Los Angeles Daily News after leading Harvard-Westlake to a Southern Section championship. He went 11-1 on the mound with a 1.62 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 66.2 innings.

P — Frank Mozzicato, East Catholic (Manchester, Conn.)
6-2 | 160 | Senior
Worked his way up the draft board after a spectacular season in which he led East Catholic to a 25-0 season. He went 9-0 with a 135 strikeouts and a 0.13 ERA in 55 innings. He also had four no-hitters on the season.

P — Hagen Smith, Bullard (Texas)
6-3 | 200 | Senior
Overpowering against Class 4A competition, he struck out 168 in 73 innings. He had a 0.19 ERA and posted seven no-hitters on the season, including three in a row. His seven no-hitters tied a single-season state record and ranks No. 3 all-time nationally.

C — Malcolm Moore, McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
6-1 | 200 | Junior
The Sacramento Bee All-Metro Player of the Year batted .535 with 55 RBI, 46 runs scored and seven home runs.

C — Joe Mack, Williamsville East (East Amherst, N.Y.)
6-1 | 203 | Senior
The top player in Western New York, Mack could be the first prep catcher selected in the MLB Draft this week. He batted .500 with 41 runs, 22 RBI, eight doubles and eight home runs.

C — Cooper Kinney, Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
6-2 | 195 | Senior
Best of the Preps by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, he helped Baylor win the Division 2 Class AAA championship by hitting .480 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI and 35 runs scored. Will likely play infield at the next level.

1B — Brady Birchmeier, New Lothrop (Mich.)
6-3 | 230 | Junior
A Division III all-state player, he was one of the top home run hitters in the Class of 2022. He batted .595 with 15 home runs, a national-best 26 doubles, 72 runs scored and 76 RBI.

1B — Carter Holton, Benedictine (Savannah, Ga.)
5-11 | 195 | Senior
An all-state player in Georgia and a three-time All-Greater Savannah selection, Holton posted a 9-2 record with 0.36 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. He also threw two perfect games and a no-hitter. At the plate, Holton batted .429 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs, 41 RBI and 42 runs scored.

IF — Jordan Lawlar, Dallas Jesuit (Dallas)
6-2 | 185 | Senior
Ranked as the top player in the nation by Perfect Game, Lawlar could be one of the top high school players chosen in the MLB Draft. He was the Dallas Morning News Player of the Year and earned all-state honors by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. He batted .412 with 46 runs scored, 37 RBI, 32 stolen bases and six home runs.

IF — Brady House, Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.)
6-3 | 210 | Senior
Played shortstop in high school but will likely move to another infield spot in college or the professional level. He has one of the best bats in the nation after batting .549 with 52 runs scored, 20 RBI, 14 doubles and eight home runs.

IF — Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.)
6-3 | 190 | Senior
Mayer led the Titans to the San Diego Section Division 1 championship and was named the San Diego Section's POY. He's expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted .392 with 46 runs, 45 RBI, six doubles and 14 home runs.

IF — Alex Mooney, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
6-1 | 175 | Senior
The state player of the year by Michigan Live, Mooney was also all-state by the Detroit Free Press and the Michigan Baseball Coaches Association. He batted .453 with 56 RBI, nine home runs and 20 stolen bases.

IF — Peyton Stovall, Haughton (La.)
6-0 | 185 | Senior
One of the top quarterbacks in Louisiana, Stovall bypassed football season due to the uncertainty of COVID and focused on baseball instead. He's expected to be drafted in the early rounds after batting .489 with seven doubles, 51 runs, 39 RBI and 12 home runs.

IF — Maxwell Muncy, Thousand Oaks (Calif.)
6-1 | 170 | Senior
The Los Angeles Daily News' All-Area player of the year, he was also the Southern Section Division 2 player of the year after leading the Lancers to a Division 2 championship. He batted .469 with 49 RBI, 11 home runs and 34 runs scored.

OF — Braden Montgomery, Madison Central (Madison, Miss.)
6-2 | 200 | Senior
Montgomery hit and pitched the Jaguars to a Class 6A state championship and was named the Mississippi Association of Coaches player of the year. He batted .479 with 50 RBI, 30 runs and seven home runs while going 9-0 on the mound with a 0.74 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.

OF — Daylen Lile, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
6-0 | 195 | Senior
Led the Shamrocks to a state championship with a .558 batting average, 66 runs, 60 RBI, 18 home runs, 12 triples and 11 doubles.

OF — Ben Montgomery, Red Land (Lewisberry, Pa.)
6-4 | 200 | Senior
He's expected to be a first round draft pick and he led the Patriots to the Class 6A championship game. He batted .420 with 44 runs, 22 RBI and seven home runs.

OF — Druw Jones, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.)
6-3 | 180 | Junior
The son of MLB All-Star Andruw Jones and one of the top prospects in the Class of 2021, he was named offensive player of the year by the Gwinnett Daily Post. He also earned all-state honors by the Georgia Dugout Preview magazine. He batted .445 with 39 RBI, 58 runs, seven doubles and 16 home runs.

OF — Carter Mathison, Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
6-1 | 195 | Senior
Led the state in home runs with 16 and was the state player of the year by the coaches association. He batted .515 with 12 doubles, six triples and 53 RBI.

OF — Jake Dresselhouse, St. Mary Prep
5-11 | 170 | Junior
Batted cleanup for the Eaglets, who finished the season ranked second in the MaxPreps Top 25 while winning a Division 2 state championship. He earned all-state honors by the coaches association and Michigan Live while batting .416 with 62 RBI and 14 home runs.

UT — Riley Maddox , Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
6-2 | 210 | Senior
A two-way standout for the MAIS Class 6A state champions as he batted .352 with 40 runs, 29 RBI, eight doubles and 11 home runs while also posting a 10-1 record with a 0.82 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 68.2 innings.

UT — James Triantos, Madison (Vienna, Va.)
6-1 | 195 | Senior
Led the Warhawks to a Class 6A state championship with an unbelievable .712 batting average that included 44 runs, 27 RBI, 23 stolen bases, 10 doubles and 11 home runs.

UT — Christian Howe, Danville (Ky.)
6-3 | 180 | Senior
Led the nation in home runs with 21 and helped Danville hit 86 home runs as a team — the most by a high school team in over a decade. He batted .547 with 51 runs, 13 doubles and a national-best 80 RBI.

Second team

P — Bubba Chandler, North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)
6-3 | 200 | Senior
One of the top football players in the state is also expected to be one of the top pitchers selected in the MLB Draft. He went 8-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. He also batted .411 with 41 runs, 12 doubles, 35 RBI and eight home runs.

P — Shane Panzinni, Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.)
6-3 | 220 | Senior
A candidate for state player of the year in New Jersey, Panzinni earned all-state honors by NJ.com after striking out 115 strikeouts and a 0.46 ERA in 61.2 innings.

P — Brock Porter, St. Mary Prep
6-4 | 205 | Junior
The top pitcher for the Division 2 state champions, he had a 12-0 record and posted 127 strikeouts and a 0.56 ERA in 62.2 innings.

P — Maddux Bruns, UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile, Ala.)
6-2 | 210 | Senior
The Alabama Sports Writers Association player of the year, Bruns went 7-0 with 102 strikeouts and a 0.86 ERA in 49 innings.

P — Jackson Wells, Rogers (Ark.)
6-0 | 190 | Senior
Helped the Mountaineers to a Class 6A state championship, going 8-1 on the mound with a 1.28 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 71 innings.

P — Ben Kudrna, Blue Valley Southwest (Overland Park, Kan.)
6-3 | 195 | Senior
The Timberwolves won a Class 5A state championship with Kudrna leading the way. Went 9-1 on the mound with 100 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA in 57.1 innings pitched.

P — Gage Jump, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
5-11 | 170 | Senior
The Orange County Register named him its pitcher of the year and he was also a Southern Section All-Division 1 pick. He was 9-0 with a 0.63 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 55.2 innings for the Southern California Division 1 champions.

P — Jackson Baumeister, Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.)
6-3 | 215 | Senior
An All-First Coast selection, he went 9-2 for the Bulldogs while striking out 145 with a .63 ERA in 77.1 innings.

P — Josh Hartle, Ronald Reagan (Pfafftown, N.C.)
6-5 | 195 | Senior
Led the Raiders to the Class 4A state finals, going 9-0 with 88 strikeouts and a 0.52 ERA in 53.2 innings. He also hit .382 with 18 RBI, five doubles and three home runs.

P — Garrett Pike, Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio)
6-1 | 175 | Senior
Outstanding at the plate and on the mound, he earned Ohio Division 1 player of the year honors from the state coaches association. He batted .534 with 53 RBI, nine home runs and 45 runs batted in. He also went 8-2 on the mound with a 1.48 ERA.

C — Harry Ford, North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.)
5-10 | 200 | Senior
Rated by Perfect Game as the top catcher prospect in the Class of 2021, Ford was named the Greater Atlanta Player of the year. He batted .296 with seven doubles and five home runs.

C — Cole Russo, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
6-2 | 205 | Senior
Helped put the Tigers near the top of the MaxPreps Top 25 for much of the season and was named to the Florida Coaches Association all-star game. He batted .373 with 27 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs.

C — Kevin Bazzell, Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, Texas)
5-11 | 205 | Senior
The Dallas Morning News picked Bazzell as its Offensive Player of the Year. He helped the Hawks win the 6A state championship and was an all-state pick by the coaches association. He batted .438 with 37 RBI and five home runs.

1B — Vito Valincius, Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
6-4 | 240 | Senior
Transferred from Chicago after his sophomore season and helped the Red Raiders to a state championship as a senior. He batted .400 with 35 RBI, six doubles and eight home runs on the season.

1B — Blake Burke, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
6-3 | 235 | Senior
The Spartans didn't play for a section championship this year due to the pandemic but he still had an outstanding season and was named the East Bay POY by the East Bay Media Group. He batted .554 with 32 RBI, 30 runs, six RBI and six home runs.

IF — Colson Montgomery, Southridge (Huntingburg, Ind.)
6-4 | 190 | Senior
A two-sport standout, he finished as one of the state's top scorers in basketball. He also led the Raiders to a Class 3A state championship in baseball and is expected to be selected in the MLB Draft. He batted .333 with 42 runs, 23 RBI, nine doubles and seven home runs.

IF — Cameron Cauley, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
5-10 | 170 | Senior
The top player for the Class 5A state champions earned a spot on the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state team and Vype's offensive player of the year. He batted .439 with 59 runs scored, 35 RBI, 11 doubles, 10 triples and six home runs.

IF — Kahlil Watson, Wake Forest (N.C.)
5-11 | 170 | Senior
Made the most of a shortened season in North Carolina batting .513 with 14 RBI, six doubles and six home runs in 18 games. He's considered a potential first-round draft pick in the MLB Draft.

IF — Izaak Pacheco, Friendswood (Texas)
6-4 | 220 | Senior
Earned all-state Class 5A honors by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association after helping the Mustangs stay at the top of the state 5A rankings most of the season. He batted .543 with 41 runs, 45 RBI, 12 doubles, four triples and six home runs.

IF — Wes Kath, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
6-3 | 200 | Senior
The Arizona Republic POY, he led the Wolves to a Class 5A state championship. Batted .486 with 34 runs scored, 29 RBI and 11 home runs.

IF — Carson Williams, Torrey Pines (San Diego)
6-2 | 185 | Senior
Earned a spot on the San Diego Section All-CIF team after batting .495 with 42 runs scored, 35 RBI, 10 doubles and 11 home runs.

OF — Roman Anthony, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
6-3 | 190 | Junior
Named the Sun Sentinel's large school player of the year after leading the Eagles to a Class 7A state championship. He batted .362 with 32 runs, 21 RBI, six doubles and five home runs.

OF — Josh Baez, Dexter Southfield (Brookline, Mass.)
6-3 | 220 | Senior
Considered one of the top outfield prospects for the 2021 MLB Draft. In a shortened season, he batted .378 with three home runs. He also had 44 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA in 18 innings pitched.

OF — Will Taylor, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
6-0 | 175 | Senior
A quarterback in football headed to Clemson, Taylor might also be a first-round MLB Draft pick after hitting .450 with 33 RBI, seven home runs and 21 stolen bases.

OF — Lonnie White, Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.)
6-3 | 205 | Senior
One of the top multi-sport athletes in the country, he was the Eastern Pennsylvania 5A player of the year in football and is considered a potential early round MLB Draft pick. He batted .384 with 36 runs, 24 RBI, 10 doubles and five home runs.

OF — Brock Selvidge, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
6-3 | 205 | Senior
Helped the Huskies to a top 10 national ranking most of the season and was crucial in helping Hamilton end the unfinished 2020 season at the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25. He earned all-state honors as a senior while batting .304 with 21 RBI, six doubles and six home runs. He also went 5-2 on the mound with 80 strikeouts and a 2.41 ERA in 52.1 innings.

OF — Lorenzo Carrier, Appoquinimink (West Middletown, Del.)
6-4 | 200 | Senior
He's been the top player in Delaware the past three seasons. Carrier led the Jaguars to a state championship as a sophomore and this year batted .535 with 40 RBI, 26 stolen bases, four home runs and 31 runs scored.

UT — Deric Fabian, North Marion (Citra, Fla.)
6-3 | 180 | Senior
The Florida Dairy Farmers Association selected him as the top player in the state this year. He batted .462 with 52 RBI, eight doubles, 38 runs scored and 13 home runs.

UT — Sal Stewart, Westminster Christian (Miami)
6-3 | 215 | Junior
For much of the season, Stewart was the state's top home run hitter. He led the Warriors to the Class 3A state championship game while knocking 17 home runs and batting .534 with 44 runs scored and 40 RBI.

UT — Nick DeMarco, St. Charles North (St. Charles, Ill.)
5-11 | 185 | Senior
One of the top two-way players in the country, he was named to the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association all-state team. He was 5-1 with 60 strikeouts and a 1.47 ERA in 38 innings. He batted .423 with 55 runs scored, 37 RBI and 11 home runs.