By Matt Belinson
Written for the LSWA
It didn’t take long for Cedar Creek baseball coach Chad Yates to see Kade Luker wasn’t your run-of-the-mill player.
After taking the job in May 2023, following two years at Benton, Yates heard about Luker from those in the area, but wanted a first-hand evaluation of a southpaw who reportedly had the makings of a star.
One practice was all it took for Yates to be sold that Luker had the potential to be one of the greatest to ever play at the Class 1A school in Ruston.
“When I first got here and laid eyes on him as a freshman, you instantly saw the tools and the projectability,” Yates said. “But it went from just that to seeing how he interacts daily with his teammates and teachers and the approach he takes to life. College coaches and pro scouts can watch a kid play and like what they see but they want to know how a kid handles adversity, how he leads, how he handles his business, and you watch Kade, and he does everything with a professional approach.”
Luker led Cedar Creek to a 27-6 record and Division IV nonselect state tournament appearance—the school’s first since 2014 – with all-state-caliber credentials at the plate and on the mound.
Given his flat-out domination in both aspects, and consistent leadership and competitive flare, Luker is the 2026 La. Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Mr. Baseball.
He’s the first player in school history to win the state’s highest honor, and first from Lincoln Parish. The District 1-1A MVP, also went to claim the Class 1A Most Outstanding Player, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, and the LBCA’s Class 1A Pitcher of the Year.
“It means a lot,” said Luker, who has 293 career strikeouts and an ERA of 1.97. “It’s an awesome accomplishment and it’s a testament to my teammates and coaches who push me to be the best I can be every day. Super grateful for this opportunity and being able to represent Cedar Creek.”
Luker, an LSU verbal commit, batted .531 with 36 RBIs, 12 doubles, seven triples, and five home runs, along with 28 stolen bases and a .641 on-base percentage as the Cougars’ leadoff hitter.
On the mound, he went 10-1, striking out 135 batters in 74 innings with just 19 walks, and limiting opponents to a .147 batting average and finished with nine games with 10-plus strikeouts.
La. Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Mr. Baseball:
1996: Joe Lawrence, Barbe
1997: Chucky Son, Parkview Baptist
1998: Aaron Lowe, Parkway
1999: Nick Bourgeois, Barbe
2000: Austin Nagle, Barbe
2001: Austin Nagle, Barbe/Jonathan Zeringue, E.D. White
2002: Greg Smith, Alexandria
2003: Matt Greenwich, Parkview Baptist
2004: Ben Soignier, West Monroe
2005: Beau Jones, Destrehan
2006: Forrest Moore, Parkview Baptist
2007: Carmen Angelini, Barbe
2008: Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary
2009: Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary
2010: Bryan Picou, Northlake Christian
2011: Aaron Nola, Catholic-BR
2012: Gavin Cecchini, Barbe
2013: Jared Poche’, Lutcher
2014: Chase Vallot, St. Thomas More
2015: Kale Breaux, Sulphur
2016: Nick Webre, Teurlings Catholic
2017: Jacob Pearson, West Monroe
2018: Cade Beloso, John Curtis
2019: Cameron Meeks, Sam Houston
2020: Season canceled
2021: Jack Walker, Barbe
2022: Ethan Frey, Rosepine
2023: Donovan LaSalle, Barbe
2024: William Schmidt, Catholic-BR
2025: Miller Sheets, Sterlington
2026: Kade Luker, Cedar Creek
