Can Central Repeat as State Champ?

Can Central High School win the State 5A Baseball Championship for the third straight year? We posed that question to Wildcats coach Mike Forbes.
Coach Forbes said, “It’s everybody’s goal at the beginning of the season to win state, or it should be. Does that mean we have the make up right now to do it? No. However, we’ve proven it doesn’t matter if you’re the most talented club. We focus on what we do best, and give it our best shot.”
“To win state, you have to execute and you have to have some luck!”
“Right now, we’re as hopeful as everyone else.”
The Wildcats have four returning starters from last year’s State Champions — Sam Kenerson, Dalton Aspholm, Drew Lasseigne, and Brent Chauvin. All are expected to play big roles this year.
One of the factors that complicates Coach Forbes’ personnel decisions is the fact that so many of his best infielders are also among his best pitchers.
For example, Forbes’ two aces are Dalton Aspholm and Drew Lasseigne. Aspholm is also an outstanding 3rd baseman, and Lasseigne is an outstanding catcher.
Aspholm and Lasseigne will be leading the Wildcat pitching rotation. Freshman Jerry Johnson is expected to move into the No. 3 spot. Conner Cassels could be No. 4, but the list vying for No. 5 is fluid.
Drew Lasseigne has been a dominant figure as catcher when he wasn’t pitching. This year, Coach Forbes plans to use Lasseigne less as catcher, in order to save him for his pitching responsibilities. He may use him a bit as 1st baseman.
Gabe Patterson may step up as catcher. Tyler Furr is another possible candidate for catcher.
When Lasseigne is not pitching or catching, he could be used at 1st. Nick Noble is a good choice.
Brant Chauvin is steady at 2nd.
Andrew Myrick is likely to start at shortstop. However, Cassels, Aspholm, and Johnson are available.
3rd is likely to rotate among Aspholm, Johnson, and Cassels.
The speed of the outfield should rival last year’s. Sam Kenerson is steady at center.
Eddie Pezant could move to right.
Scotlandville transfer De’Onte Dotson could be at left, and Brodie Knaps will be in the mix.
Looking back on last year’s championship run, Coach Forbes thinks Parklane was the most important series, particularly overcoming the no-hitter.
Then beating Zachary in the first game of a three-game series in the playoffs was vital to proving that Zachary could be beaten.
So where does Central stand on winning another State Championship this year?
Overall, Central is just as talented as last year.
There are so many guys on the team who can come through in the clutch.
The weakness is lack of depth.
The Wildcats only have 20 players on their roster, and four of those are freshmen.
At least a dozen Central players have the needed experience. As long as they are healthy, Central should have a better chance than last year.