Center fielder Donovan LaSalle made the most of his second chance, blasting a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning of Barbe High’s 10-4 win over West Monroe in the non-select Division I state championship baseball game.

LaSalle’s dramatic hit highlighted a nine-run inning for the Bucs, who entered the final inning trailing 4-1.

He helped Barbe earn its 12th state championship and LaSalle the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Baseball award, presented to the state’s most outstanding player.

He is the seventh Buc to earn the award. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 5A all-state team.

“It feels great to achieve these awards, but I couldn’t have done it without my team this year,” LaSalle said. “The bond this team had was truly one of a kind. All of the morning workouts, all of the practices, we stuck together. I enjoyed every single time we got to suit up and go to battle.”

LaSalle finished the season hitting .510 with 10 home runs, 43 runs batted in, 57 runs scored and 33 stolen bases. He helped the Bucs finish 39-1, including 20 consecutive wins to end the season.

“I’ve been here 38 years, and only one other player — Austin Nagle – has hit over .500 with more than 10 home runs,” Barbe head coach Glenn Cecchini said.

The grand slam was his moment of redemption after popping up in a bases-loaded situation in last year’s playoffs. Cecchini said LaSalle came back determined for his senior season.

“It’s the biggest one-season improvements I’ve ever seen,” Cecchini said. “He got bigger, stronger and improved his speed in the outfield. I asked him about it and he said his mother told him to just have fun, to enjoy his senior season. He is great at staying in the moment. He doesn’t let a bad at-bat affect him.”

LaSalle said he worked on intangibles between his junior and senior seasons.

“Baseball is such a mental game,” he said. “I worked on improving my mental mind-set and that aspect of the game, which I think helped me succeed all year.”

He also helped the Bucs win a state championship in 2021, playing at second base and in the outfield. He drove in the game’s lone run in a 1-0, extra-inning win over Sam Houston in the semifinals. He also drove in a run in the championship game, a 5-0 win over West Monroe.

He signed in November to play at Oklahoma State.

LaSalle’s impact on and off the field won’t be forgotten

“He is a special person in addition to being a great player,” Cecchini said. “He was a great leader for us, a leader by example. Whenever a kid was down, LaSalle was there to pick him up. He’s the ultimate teammate.”

MR. BASEBALL WINNERS

2023 — Donovan LaSalle, Barbe

2022 — Ethan Frey, Rosepine

2021 — Jack Walker, Barbe

2020 — Season canceled

2019 — Cameron Meeks, Sam Houston

2018 — Cade Beloso, John Curtis Christian

2017 — Jacob Pearson, West Monroe

2016 — Nick Webre, Teurlings Catholic

2015 — Kale Breaux, Sulphur

2014 — Chase Vallot, St. Thomas More

2013 — Jared Poché, Lutcher

2012 — Gavin Cecchini, Barbe

2011 — Aaron Nola, Catholic-Baton Rouge

2010 — Bryan Picou, Northlake Christian

2009 — Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary

2008 — Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary

2007 — Carmen Angelini, Barbe

2006 — Forrest Moore, Parkview Baptist

2005 — Beau Jones, Destrehan

2004 — Ben Soignier, West Monroe

2003 — Matt Greenwich, Parkview Baptist

2002 — Greg Smith, Alexandria

2001 — Austin Nagle, Barbe/Jonathan Zeringue, E.D. White

2000 — Austin Nagle, Barbe

1999 — Nick Bourgeois, Barbe

1998 — Aaron Lowe, Parkway

1997 — Chucky Son, Parkview Baptist

1996 — Joe Lawrence, Barbe