Cedar Creek's baseball program has been recognized with the 2025‑26 American Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award, a distinction that highlights the squad's combined prowess in the classroom and on the diamond.
The team posted a 3.7 cumulative grade point average for the academic year, surpassing the 3.0 minimum required for the honor. The award acknowledges more than 800 programs nationwide — including over 320 high schools — that excel academically while competing at a high level.
Beyond scholarship, the Knights enjoyed a standout season, surpassing the 20‑win mark and advancing to the Select School Division IV state semifinals, underscoring the program's competitive edge.
Head coach Chad Yates reflected on the demanding balance, noting that maintaining academic rigor alongside a rigorous schedule of practices, games and travel is a constant challenge, but one that the players have embraced.
A Culture of Dual Excellence
The recognition reflects a broader culture within Cedar Creek baseball that values scholarship as much as sport, a philosophy that continues to shape the team's approach each season.
The ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award was introduced in 2016 to honor programs that demonstrate high academic and athletic standards, and the association itself, founded in 1945, has grown to include members from high schools, colleges and professional baseball.