Sure signs of spring are green grass and baseball gloves. Riverside Academy coach Marty Luquet  is back for his third season as the coach of the Rebels, leading a young team with three seniors: Luke Hymel, Thomas Mazzella and  Dane Delaneuville. Last year the team was 19-16. The Rebels will host a jamboree on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. against East St. John. Their regular season begins Monday at 3:30 p.m. at H.L. Bourgeois. 

Luquet said he feels like his team is in the softball program’s shadow due to the reminder of their constant success. He hopes to move in that direction this season.

“”(We are) trying to build the program like it was in 2017 when they won the state championship, but also be consistent like the softball program,” Luquet said. 

Luquet’s high expectations are from the returning players.  Pitcher/shortstop Luke Hymel is a returning All-State player. Outfielders Delaneuville, Mazzella, and Kayden Brumfield should play a big part this season. Returning junior catcher Brennan Maus brings maturity to the infield. Second baseman Jaymes Tamplain is coming back from a knee injury that made him miss the end of the 2022 season and the whole summer. 

Overall, the baseball team is a force to reckon with and has a lot to prove.