Kade Luker named Mr. Baseball

It didn’t take long for Cedar Creek head baseball coach Chad Yates to see Kade Luker wasn’t your run-of-themill baseball player.

After taking the job at Cedar Creek in May 2023, following two years at Benton High School, Yates had 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 Cedar Creek.

“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.”

The project ion proved true this season as Luker led Cedar Creek to a 27-6 record and a state tournament appearance — the school’s first since 2014 — with All-State-caliber production at the plate and on the mound.

Given his flat-out domination in both aspects of the game and consistent leadership and competitive flare, Luker is the 2026 La. Farm Bureau Insurance/ LSWA Mr. Baseball.

Luker is the first Mr. Baseball in school history and Lincoln Parish history, but what’s one more piece of history to his impressive junior season given that he also was named District 1-1A MVP, LSWA Class 1A MVP, Gatorade Louisiana Baseball Player of the Year, and LBCA All-State 1A Pitcher of the Year for his efforts this spring.

“It means a lot. 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,” Luker said. “Super grateful for this opportunity and being able to represent Cedar Creek.”

He arguably put together separate All-State- worthy seasons if you just looked at his offensive production or just his pitching prowess. But the beauty of Luker is he’s the whole package.

Luker, an LSU verbal commit, hit .531 with 36 RBIs, 12 doubles, 7 triples, and 5 home runs, along with 28 stolen bases and a .641 onbase percentage as the Cougars’ leadoff hitter.

On the mound, he posted a 1.04 ERA in 74 innings with 135 strikeouts to just 19 walks, 38 hits and 11 earned runs allowed, finishing with a 10-1 record. He limited opponents to a .147 batting average and finished with nine outings over 10 strikeouts this season.

“He’s certainly deserving of this honor for the year that he had for us both on the mound and at the plate,” Yates said. “You could put him up with anyone in the state at either spot and he’s one of the best.

“It’s cool to see him win this and to have a guy like that in your program. People see the numbers and come watch him play, and it’s easy to see the skillset, but what people don’t see is the way he shows up every day and the drive he has. He has a drive to be better, and he shows up at practice, at school, with his teammates, with coaches the same way every day.

“He’s had his mind set on accomplishing great things and just taken a disciplined approach to his game and you’re seeing it translate. Just a special kid, special player,” Yates continued.

Luker, entering his senior year this fall at Cedar Creek, has 293 career strikeouts and a career ERA of 1.97. He’s motivated to help the Cougars finish the job and win a state title in 2027.

“Coming off the semifinal loss this season, I’m using that as motivation to get back to that point and not just make it there but win in Sulphur,” Luker said. “Going into the offseason, I’m focused on getting better in every aspect of my game and learning as much as possible.”