There is a powerful force brewing in Erath the days in the guise of simply dominant Team Louisiana Blue, an 8-and-under USSSA squad.

Team Louisiana Blue is 34-2 on the year. The boys won the North State Tournament last weekend, and are battling for the South State title in Lafayette this weekend.

Team Louisiana Blue has given up only 214 runs in their 36 games this year while scoring 470.

Out of eight tournaments played this year, Team Louisiana Blue has won seven.

“They’re a special group of kids,” said head coach Tory Dubois. “They’re out there because they want to be there. They want to get better as players and as individuals. They’re clicking..”

Dubois, 34, is a 1996 graduate of North Vermilion High School, where he played baseball.

He said he feels the experience that he and his assistant coaches bring to the table have helped Team Louisiana Blue become a force.

Former NV baseball player Scott Breaux, who played collegiate ball at Louisiana College, is one of the assistant coaches.

The other is former Erath High baseball player Thomas Stevens, who played at an Indiana junior college.

“We hope we bring a lot of baseball knowledge,” said Dubois. “These kids soak it in. You can teach them something today and by tomorrow they almost have it mastered.”

Team Louisiana Blue boasts four Vermilion Parish boys as team members: Blake Lastraps, Barrett Hebert, Mikie Bazar and Zack Necaise.

Eight of the players come from St. Landry Parish and two are from Lafayette.

The Team is in final preparations for the upcoming USSSA World Series in Sulphur in July.

“There will be some tough teams out there,” said Dubois. “You just want to make sure your doesn’t peak too soon... I feel we haven’t.”

Team Louisiana Blue is ranked third nationally in the 8-AAA division of USSSA. They are currently the top-ranked team in Louisiana.