SULPHUR — Like most every other season, the Teurlings Catholic and St. Thomas More baseball teams are again state title contenders.
Whether the result of a tough schedule or just growing pains, it took some time for both teams to come together and play at a high level.
But both the second-seeded Rebels and fifth-seeded Cougars are on top of their games as they open play in the Division II select semifinals on Thursday in Sulphur.
“I think we have a great group of exceptionally talented baseball players,” STM coach Chance Harst said. “We just freed them up and let them do what they do best. The things that we do great far outnumber the things we don’t do well.”
Teurlings (22-10) will face No. 3 Vandebilt Catholic (26-13) on Field 40, while St. Thomas More (21-15) will play No. 1 St. Louis Catholic (24-10) on Field 41.
Both games will start at 11 a.m. at McMurry Park.
“We are super excited,” Teurlings coach Brooks Badeaux said. “We have stalled out here the last couple of years, but the guys have worked hard. They committed themselves to doing the right things and they have committed themselves to the process. I’m happy for them. They deserve it.”
The Rebels are seeking their first title game appearance since 2018 when they won their third straight state title, while the Cougars look to return to the title game for the first time since 2015 when they won the second of back-to-back state titles.
“We have to show up and be ready to play,” Badeaux said. “Everyone is in the postseason for a reason. Nothing is going to be given.”
“Our schedule was a gauntlet,” said Harst, whose team faced nine state tournament teams. “It was a very trying and tough schedule, but it has prepared us for where we are at today.”
The Rebels will have their hands full with Vandebilt, which has won 13 of its past 14 games. The Terriers of Houma have an experienced team with a stable of quality arms, Badeaux said.
“Vandebilt is a first-class program,” he said. “They have a really good pitching staff; they are well-coached, and they play the game the right way. It’s going to be a good game.”
Teurlings will be face St. Louis for the third time this season after the teams split their two regular-season games. STM won the first game 9-1, while the Saints of Lake Charles took an 8-0 win in the rematch the next day.
“We know that the teams that played on those days aren’t the same teams that is going to play in Sulphur,” Harst said. “St. Louis has (a pitcher) that is back that we didn’t see when we played them and our rotation got turned upside down, so they didn’t get to see Wil Taylor. Both teams are going to compete. It should be fun.”
St. Louis, which has scored 59 runs in 21 innings over four postseason games, will have to face Taylor on Thursday.
“With Wil on the (mound) for us, I’d love to face anybody in the state,” Harst said. “I love our team and our focus is on controlling our moment.”
