by Malcolm Butler
It was quite a Monday for Kade Luker.
A history maker to be exact.
The Cedar Creek southpaw added two more trophies to the case, earning the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year award while also collecting the LSWA all-state MVP award.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior became the first Cedar Creek baseball player to ever win the Gatorade Player of the Year award and only the second Lincoln Parish player, joining former Ruston High star Brandon Watts (1991).
Luker headlined the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A all-state baseball team after being named the state’s Most Outstanding Player. The LSU commitment helped lead Cedar Creek to a 27-6 record and a trip to the Division IV select state semifinals.
“I think he went out and he had a great summer and just came in that fall this past fall with just seemed like a dedication,” said Cedar Creek HC Chad Yates. “He was going to do everything he could to just get himself a little bit better every day and bring those guys along with him.”
Luker is ranked No. 61 in the Class of 2027 by Prep Baseball Report.
“He just showed up each and every day trying to get himself better.”
The hard-throwing left-hander finished the season 10-1 with a 1.04 ERA while striking out 135 batters over 74 innings. He allowed only 11 earned runs and issued 19 walks all season.
Offensively, Luker hit leadoff for the Cougars, batting .531 with 48 runs, 36 RBI and 28 stolen bases.
“He’s a high character kid that, again, shows up and does the little things behind the scenes,” said Yates, who said Luker touched 94 MPH on the radar gun down in Sulphur. “He’s out in the community, any events that we do or anything that I’ve called him that I need help with as far as a camp or some of the team community events that we do.”
His named wasn’t the only Cedar Creek honoree on the all-state Class A baseball and softball teams as a host of Cougars and Lady Cougars received recognition.
He was joined on the first team by Cedar Creek teammate Ryan Coleman, who earned all-state recognition in the outfield after batting .359 during his junior campaign.
“Ryan made that big jump this season and really got himself in a good space to where he could go out there each and every day and put his best efforts forward,” said Yates. “He did and kept getting better and just had big at bats for us and then played a great right field for us as well.”
Cedar Creek’s Connor Yates also earned honorable mention honors on the Class 1A baseball team.
On the softball side, Cedar Creek placed three players on the Class 1A honorable mention list.
Junior Hydi Boyd, freshman Ava Lantrip and sophomore Presley Wall all earned honorable mention recognition following the Lady Cougars’ 2026 season. The trio guided Cedar Creek to a 20-win season and a quarterfinal appearance in the Select School Division IV playoffs.
St. John senior Charli Neumann was named the Class 1A softball Most Outstanding Player while Central Catholic baseball coach Brent Hidalgo and Grand Lake softball coach Ryan Monceaux earned Coach of the Year honors.
Class 1A Baseball Team
Pos. — Player, School, Class
P — Mason Dudek, Covenant Christian, Sr.
P — Kade Luker, Cedar Creek, Jr.
P — Jayce Ruiz, Riverside, Sr.
P — Peyton Vizena, St. Edmund, Sr.
C — Peyton Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr.
INF — Keaton Cason, Logansport, Sr.
INF — Brandon Guagliardo, Central Catholic, Fr.
INF — A.J. Lavespere, St. Mary’s, Sr.
INF — Maden Rodriguez, Central Catholic, So.
OF — Ryan Coleman, Cedar Creek, Jr.
OF — Nate Loupe, Covenant Christian, Jr.
OF — Myka Nipple, Catholic-Pointe Coupee, Jr.
UT — Myles Collins, Opelousas Catholic, Jr.
UT — Law Faulk, Grand Lake, So.
UT — Owen O’Neil, St. Frederick, Sr.
UT — Owen Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr.
UT — Brody Vicknair, Riverside, Jr.
Most Outstanding Player — Kade Luker, Cedar Creek
Coach of the Year — Brent Hidalgo, Central Catholic
Honorable Mention
Vaughn Blanchard, Ascension Catholic; Luke Brignac, Ascension Christian; Blaize Brister, Merryville; Winn Cedars, St. Mary’s; Cy Crowson, St. John; Landon Daigle, St. John; Gavin Edwards, Montgomery; Tyler Edwards, St. John; Jaxon Frederick, Centerville; Kross Gillen, Opelousas Catholic; Parker Gros, Central Catholic; Riley Hebert, Centerville; Carter Hotard, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; David Irwin, Central Catholic; King Jones, Logansport; Mason Jordan, Montgomery; Cy Landry, Ascension Catholic; Luke Leaumont, St. Frederick; Cole Mirante, Merryville; Jude Morrison, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Haidyn Nelson, St. Mary’s; Preston Peebles, Ascension Episcopal; Lanny Reed, St. Edmund; Gabe Savarese, St. Martin’s; Alex Scheuermann, St. Martin’s; William Simon, Vermilion Catholic; Luke Spangler, Centerville; Carter Stelly, Opelousas Catholic; Landon Underwood, Central Catholic; Owen Vacarella, Hanson; Johnny Viallon, Ascension Catholic; Connor Yates, Cedar Creek.
Class 1A Softball Team
Pos. — Player, School, Class
P — Kamryn Cancienne, Riverside, Sr.
P — Ava Gauthe, Ascension Catholic, Sr.
P — Landry Long, LaSalle, So.
P — Ainsley Morvan, Logansport, So.
C — Brynn Beard, Merryville, So.
INF — Gabi Brown, Glenbrook Academy
INF — Charli Neumann, St. John, Sr.
INF — Olivia St. Pierre, Riverside, So.
INF — Bella Trosclair, Covenant Christian, Sr.
OF — Sophie Crochet, Ascension Catholic, Sr.
OF — Avery Houser, St. Frederick, Sr.
OF — Bayli Melancon, Riverside, So.
UT — Alaina Beard, Grand Lake, Sr.
UT — Camille DeGravelle, St. Frederick, So.
UT — Sanaa Lyles, Plain Dealing, Sr.
UT — Kinley Morris, LaSalle, Sr.
UT — Grace Wren, St. Mary’s, Sr.
Most Outstanding Player — Charli Neumann, St. John
Coach of the Year — Ryan Monceaux, Grand Lake
Honorable Mention
Emmarie Atkins, Logansport; Ally Atwood, Delta Charter; Jaci Bordelon, Riverside; Hydi Boyd, Cedar Creek; Addy Brown, Central Private; Tyonnah Burton, St. Mary’s; Addie Clampit, St. Frederick; Karson Davis, Covenant Christian; Emma Delatte, Ascension Catholic; Onnie Doucet, Hanson; Kaleigh Evans, Covenant Christian; Sofie Green, Plain Dealing; Anna-Maria Gros, Central Catholic; Heidi Harrison, St. Frederick; Gracie Heard, Glenbrook Academy; Sophie Hedrick, Delta Charter; Malorie LaCaze, St. Mary’s; Ava Lantrip, Cedar Creek; Avery McCartney, Central Private; Karyn Milazzo, Riverside; Lawson Olinde, Catholic-PC; Emma Pitre, Hanson; Addison Quick, Covenant Christian; Mia Richard, Grand Lake; Averie Ryals, Central Catholic; Zoie Scully, Central Catholic; Mia Sisco, Westminster Christian-Lafayette; Kennedi Smith, Logansport; Brooklyn Steward, Merryville; Hallie Sutton, Glenbrook; Ava Taylor, Delta Charter; Hannah Thevis, Grand Lake; Madison Trahan, Grand Lake; Presley Wall, Cedar Creek.
