The road to the 2026 LHSAA Baseball State Tournament in Sulphur is officially paved, and the brackets are set! For teams across Louisiana, the dream of a state championship begins now. Last season, three teams from the 337 area code celebrated with championship hardware, and a new group of contenders is ready to write their own story.
This year, 28 teams from Lafayette Parish and the surrounding region have punched their tickets to the postseason. Leading the charge is Opelousas Catholic, which secured the coveted No. 1 overall seed in the Select Division IV bracket. They are joined by other high-seeded local powers, including Teurlings Catholic (No. 3, Select Division II) and Acadiana Renaissance Charter (No. 4, Select Division II).
In the Select Division I bracket, St. Thomas More earned a strong No. 4 seed, while Erath grabbed the No. 5 spot in Non-Select Division III. These teams, along with Eunice and Rayne, have all earned valuable first-round byes, allowing them to rest and prepare as the playoff action kicks off.
For the rest of the area's qualifiers, the journey begins with intense three-game series starting April 16. The matchups are set, and every pitch will matter as these athletes compete for the ultimate prize. Here are the key first-round playoff pairings featuring our local 337-area teams:
No. 6 Eunice awaits the winner between No. 22 Albany and No. 11 West Feliciana.
No. 7 Rayne will face the victor of the clash between No. 23 A.J. Ellender and No. 10 Belle Chasse.
No. 5 Erath is set to play the winner of No. 21 Lakeside at No. 12 Pine.
No. 4 St. Thomas More will meet the winner of No. 20 Ponchatoula at No. 13 Lafayette.
No. 3 Teurlings Catholic will take on the winner of No. 19 Madison Prep at No. 14 Leesville.
No. 4 Acadiana Renaissance Charter will play the winner of No. 20 Washington-Marion at No. 13 The Willow School.
No. 1 Opelousas Catholic will face the winner of No. 17 Hanson Memorial at No. 16 Central Catholic.
In a direct first-round battle, No. 20 Ascension Episcopal will travel to face No. 13 Westminster Christian-Opelousas.
It's time for high-stakes baseball. As these teams battle through the brackets, they'll be relying on skill, determination, and the right gear to perform at their peak. Good luck to all the athletes representing the 337 area!