By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations
NATCHITOCHES – Versatility and high baseball IQ was on the recruiting checklist for Northwestern State’s 2025 baseball recruiting class.
Second-year head coach Chris Bertrand announced Thursday the addition of nine players who signed with the Demons, including Doyline right-handed pitcher Noah Spears.
Eight come from the high school ranks with one junior college signee round out the student-athletes who signed on the first day of the fall early signing period.
Coming to Northwestern are high school signees Brody Belanger (C, Sterlington), Kade Bryant (LHP, Benton), Brock Davis (2B/SS, Live Oak), Austin Glasscock (1B/LHP, Bridgeland HS, Cypress Texas), Justin Lartigue (1B, Lake Charles College Prep), Noah Spears (RHP, Doyline), Brody Trosclair (LHP, Thibodaux) and RHP Logan Trotter (Anahuac, Texas).
South Arkansas College outfielder/right-handed pitcher JT Simonelli rounds out the first group of 2025 signees.
“It’s another logical step and a very carefully strategized step in building our roster for the future,” Bertrand said. “We want each one of those to have meaning and value toward the overall roster and the program. We wanted to meet specific needs. We want to continue our quest in becoming more balanced in every phase. We want to continue our quest in becoming more athletic. This class does each and every one of those things. We couldn’t be any more excited to welcome them and more proud of the work our staff put in getting to this point today. The class is exactly what the Demons want.”
2025 Northwestern State Baseball Signing Class Bios
Brody Belanger, C, R/R, 5-10, 187, Monroe, La. (Sterlington HS)
High School: Lettered for coach Mark Sims’ Panthers … helped Sterlington reach the state championship game as a junior … holds a 3.92 grade point average.
Bertrand on Belanger: “When you think of Brody Belanger, he is exactly the type of player the Demons are looking build their future around, because he’s tough, he plays the game extremely hard. He’s a coach’s kid, which means that comes with a level of work ethic, a passion for the game and a high baseball IQ. We are well aware there is not a lot of baseball activity at this point, because of a football injury, but we think the person he is and the projectability of the type of athlete he is, we are excited to get him on campus and help grow and develop him into the player we think he can be. The person and family we are welcoming into the program gives us confidence in that.”
Kade Bryant, LHP, L/L, 5-11, 175, Benton, La. (Benton HS)
High School: Three-year letterman for Dane Peavy’s Tigers … named first-team all-state, all-region, all-city and all-district as a junior, helping Benton post a 31-11 record … named All-Metro Player of the Year and All-Region Pitcher of the Year … first-team all-district as both a pitcher and outfielder as a junior … named Regional Tournament MVP while playing for the Bossier Phillies in American Legion in the summer of 2024 … earned academic all-district honors as a sophomore, helping the Tigers post a 21-17 record … four-year golf letterman for coach Tim Cram … member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club while holding a 4.15 grade point average.
Assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Dylan Belanger on Bryant: “Left-handed pitchers in the state are a high commodity. I saw him throw against Barbe, which is one of the better offenses in the state, and he kept them off balance for 5 2-3 innings. It’s high pitchability. He throws a lot of strikes, keeps guys off balance from the left side. He can come in and possibly be a bullpen piece his first year and work his way up. He’s one of the better starters in that Shreveport-area district. We’re super excited to add Kade to our group and welcoming him to campus.”
Brock Davis, 2B/SS, L/R, 5-10, 190, Hammond, La. (Live Oak HS)
High School: Three-year letterman for coaches Jesse Cassard, Craig Costello and Cary Myers’ Eagles … earned first-team all-district, all-parish and all-metro honors as a junior after hitting .370 … batted .430 as a sophomore, earning first-team all-district, all-parish and all-metro honors … Golden Glove awardee at the district level as Live Oak went 30-8 … named first-team all-district as a freshman after hitting .385 for a 30-win team … member of the Beta Club and holds a 4.0 grade point average.
Belanger on Davis: “He was one of the first kids I saw when I took the job here. When I saw Brock play, I knew immediately we needed to get him. He can be a huge piece for our future as a left-handed-hitting middle infielder who has added 15 pounds this offseason. He can make an immediate impact as soon as he gets on campus.”
Austin Glasscock, 1B/LHP, 6-3, 190, L/L, Cypress, Texas (Bridgeland HS)
High School: Two-year letterman for coach Paul Orlando’s Bears … posted a .510 on-base percentage and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in district play as a junior as Bridgeland reached the regional finals … named District 16-6A Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore, hitting .389 with a .532 on-base percentage and 1.089 OPS for the bi-district finalists … ranks in the top 10 percent of his class with a 6.7 grade point average on a 6.0 weighted scale … member of the distinguished honor roll.
Belanger on Glasscock: “Austin is one of those two-way players we talked about. Left-handed-hitting, strong first baseman who can also pitch. With the new roster rules moving forward, he’s another huge piece we needed to add to this class.”
Justin Lartigue, 1B, L/L, 5-11, 215, Lake Charles, La. (Lake Charles College Prep)
High School: Three-year letterman for coach Orenthal Lewis’ Trailblazers … is the program’s first Division I signee … batted .516 with five home runs and a .657 on-base percentage as a junior, earning first-team all-district honors … his batting average led Class 3A in Louisiana … batted .400 with a pair of home runs to earn second-team all-district honors as a sophomore … .316 hitter as a freshman, earning honorable mention all-district acclaim … also threw the first perfect game in school history … finalist for Student of the Year honors and ranks No. 2 in his class of 175 … holds a 4.14 grade point average.
Bertrand and Lartigue: “We’re really excited to bring Justin to campus. He is one of the first and one of the strongest relationships we have built as we set out as a new staff last year in recruiting. He came to one of our camps on campus, which gave us a chance to recognize the talent early on. As we followed him, we figured out quickly he’s our type of player and our type of person. He brings a physicality to our lineup, another element of left-handed hitting to balance out the overall lineup. We were impressed with his footwork around the bag. He truly enjoys playing the game. He’s got a vibrant smile and a personality where you can tell he’ s really passionate about baseball. That’s something that is attractive to the way we’re building.”
JT Simonelli, OF, L/R, 6-1, 200, Jonesboro, La. (Quitman HS/South Arkansas College)
Prior to NSU: Played one season at South Arkansas College …
High School: Lettered for coach Chris Womack’s Wolverines … named all-state as a senior after hitting .403 with seven triples and 37 runs scored as Quitman reached the state semifinals … also lettered in basketball for coach Michael Black and in golf for coach Lance Seymore … member of the Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America and Future Business Leaders of America … graduated with a 4.08 grade point average.
Bertrand on Simonelli: “JT is a Louisiana kid with roots in this area. It’s obvious within our program those things have some value to us. We are very impressed with his overall athleticism, how fast-twitch an athlete he is. He brings a level of versatility in the fact he can play multiple outfield positions. There also is extreme athleticism and the ability to pitch a little if we need him to. He can bring value as a left-handed hitter, an athlete in the offense and as a tremendous outfielder.”
Noah Spears, RHP, L/R, 6-6, 225, Doyline, La. (Doyline HS)
High School: Three-year letterman for coaches Colby Martin and Jackson Rutledge … three-time honorable mention all-state selection … first-team all-district all three seasons and was the district MVP as a freshman … has helped Doyline reach the state playoffs all three seasons … three-year basketball letterman for coach Michael Normand … holds a 3.9 grade point average.
Belanger on Spears: “Tall, super-projectable right-handed pitcher. Kind of a hidden gem coming from a smaller school. We look at him as someone we can build around down the road. As soon as he gets here and we can get him in our program and our weight room and get him going in the right direction, he could be very special. He’s been up to 90 miles per hour already and still is under the radar. He’s definitely a guy we’re excited to have, get him on campus and see what he can do.”
Brody Trosclair, LHP, L/L, 5-11, 175, Thibodaux, La. (Thibodaux HS)
High School: Two-year letterman for coach Shane Trosclair’s Tigers … went 5-2 with a 1.07 ERA, striking out 54 in 39 1-3 innings as a junior … helped pitch Thibodaux to the playoffs as a sophomore, pitching to a 2.50 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 15 1-3 innings … member of the Christian Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and holds a 3.4 grade point average.
Belanger on Trosclair: “Left-handed pitcher with a three-pitch mix who has run the fastball up to 90 miles per hour. He is about a 3,000 rpm spin rate breaking ball guy. That’s off the charts and caught our attention early in the recruiting process. Once again, he is a coach’s son. He should be the district MVP down there. If he can stay on the track he’s going, that’s going to be an upper 90s, huge piece on the left-handed side moving forward.”
Logan Trotter, RHP, R/R, 6-1, 165, Anahuac, Texas (Anahuac HS)
High School: Four-sport letterman competed in baseball, football, basketball and track and field … named first-team all-district as a junior, ranking in the top 50 in Texas in strikeouts … first-team all-district selection as a sophomore … named second-team all-district as a quarterback during his junior year … reached the area round in the high jump and as part of the 4×400 relay team as a junior … helped the basketball team complete an undefeated district season and reach the third round of the playoffs … ranks in the top 10 percent of his class and received the Honesty and Integrity Award … holds a 4.0 grade point average.
Belanger on Trotter: “Logan is another kid who came to camp here. Something that caught our eye early was he’s another 3,000 rpm spin rate on the breaking ball. The secondary stuff is off the charts. Three-pitch mix, dual-sport football player as well. Super, super athletic, long, lanky pitcher who will make an immediate impact because of how well he moves. He knows how to pitch.”