Best of the best

With the baseball season in the books and all of the state titles claimed, the districts honored their best players this week.

When it came to District 5-5A, Dutchtown was the most decorated school. They tied state champion Catholic with the most first-team selections with six.

In addition to those selections, head coach Chris Schexnaydre was named Coach of the Year, and pitcher Cole Stapler was named District 5-5A MVP.

The Nicholls State signee was a dominant force from the mound all year for the Griffins as they finished with a 25-9 overall record and earned a first-round home playoff game. It was there that they were upset 8-4 by district and parish rival St. Amant.

Along with Stapler, Steven Bright earned first-team honors as a catcher, and Robbie Podorsky was a first-round selection from the infield.

In the outfield, Collin Delaune made the first team where he was joined by utility players Austin Bain and Alex Thibodeaux.

Four Griffins made the second-team unit. Evan Mativi made it as a pitcher, Adam Boyd made it from the infield and both Mason Nickens and Grant McCrory made it from the outfield.

As for the team that brought down the Griffins in the playoffs, St. Amant had four players earn first-team honors.

Pitcher Austin Tanner was one of the selections. Tanner got hot at the end of the season and helped the Gators end the year on a six-game winning streak.

St. Amant took a 24-9 record into the playoffs where they pulled the upset over No. 15 Dutchtown in the opening round and rolled past second-seeded Destrehan 6-2 in regionals.

The big win put them through to the State Baseball Tournament, but they fell to eventual state runner-up Zachary 7-2.

Along with Tanner, Brennan Grant was a first-team selection from the infield, and Jacob Morales earned the same honors from the outfield.

Cole Beniot was the Gators' final first-team selection as a utility player.

On the second team, Andre' Liotta and Connor Millet both made it from the mound while Matt Delaune made it as a catcher.

Blaine Schexnayder was a second-team selection from the infield, and both Madison Nickens and Branson Bowen made it from the outfield.

Along with St. Amant and Dutchtown, East Ascension saw their share of all-district selections.

The Spartans struggled throughout the year--finishing with a losing record, but they were still able to squeeze into the playoffs where they lost to third-seeded Brother Martin in the opening round.

Tyler Robertson represented East Ascension from the mound. Joining Robertson on the first team were infielder Kade Waguespack and outfielder Austin Millet.

On the second team, Devin Speligene made it as a pitcher and a utility player while Layne Trahan made it as a catcher. Jace Fairchild completed the Spartans' second-team selections as he made it from the infield.

Out in 3A, the Donaldsonville Tigers suffered through a brutal year, but there was one bright spot. Eddie Crochet was a first-team All-District 3-7A utility player.

In District 9-1A, the first-team squad was well-represented by Ascension Christian and Ascension Catholic. The Lions led the way with five selections.

Seth Gaudin earned first-team honors as a pitcher while Brennan Perkins made the first team as a catcher.

Tyler Delaune made it as an outfielder, Trace Trahan made it as a utility player and Kaleb Bledsoe was Ascension Christian's final first-team selection at designated hitter.

Kristian Sheets was crowned as the designated hitter on the second team while Peyton Bahlinger was a second-team selection from the infield.

As for Ascension Catholic, quite a few of their players were rewarded for a solid season that saw them go 15-15 and make it to the second round of the playoffs.

Pitcher Hunter Medine made the first team for the Bulldogs as well as infielder Grant Montero.

Tyler Simoneaux was their final first-team selection from the outfield.

On the second team, D.J. Latino made it as a pitcher. James Martin made it from the infield, and Reed Shexnayder made it from the outfield.

Rounding out the District 9-1A selections for Ascension Catholic was second-team utility player Ross Barbier.