The 2026 high school baseball season in Louisiana has drawn to a close, and the state’s top performers have been recognized on the Prep Baseball Louisiana First Team All‑State list. The honor roll, announced this week, celebrates the most impactful players across classifications, highlighting a year marked by dominant pitching, power hitting and clutch performances.
Player of the Year: Kade Luker
Kade Luker of Cedar Creek School was crowned the 2026 Player of the Year after a season that combined a .533 batting average with five home runs and 35 RBIs at the plate, while his 10‑1 record and steady command on the mound yielded a sub‑2.00 ERA. His dual‑threat ability epitomized the modern high school star.
Standout Pitchers and Hitters
Other elite arms included Drake Amedee of Brother Martin, who finished 11‑1 with a 1.62 ERA and 89 strikeouts, and Mills Richardson from Catholic, who posted a 10‑1 record, a 1.60 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Christian Sauska of Isidore Newman led his squad to a state championship, going 10‑1 with a 1.38 ERA, while Noah Sullivan of Zachary High School compiled a 9‑2 record, a 2.01 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Power hitters such as Kason Johnson of Dutchtown (8‑1, 1.22 ERA, 86 strikeouts) and Lucas Lawrence of Catholic, who overcame ACL surgery to finish 5‑0 with a 1.35 ERA and 36 strikeouts, underscored the depth of pitching talent. At the plate, Landen Derouen of Erath batted .510 with five homers and 42 RBIs, and Cole Snell of Benton High School posted a .440 average with four homers and 45 RBIs.
Championship Contributors
The list also recognized versatile standouts like Myles Ledoux of Barbe, who posted a .436 average, a .606 on‑base percentage and 31 stolen bases, and Connor Micheu of John Curtis Christian, who broke his school’s single‑season hit record with a .451 average. Additional notable performances came from Harrison Kidder of Catholic (.403, 5 HR, 38 RBIs), Jackson Lee of Ruston (stealing 26 bases) and Ridge Coats of Ouachita Christian (11 homers, 55 RBIs).
Beyond pure statistics, several players helped their teams capture state titles. Christian Sauska’s Newman squad, Hadley Hardesty of Westlake, and Barrett Coody of Rosepine each finished the season with championship trophies, blending elite hitting with reliable pitching. The breadth of talent across the classification suggests a promising pipeline for college programs and future professional prospects.
A Promising Future
With a deep pool of All‑State honorees, Louisiana’s high school baseball landscape is poised for continued excellence. Scouts and coaches alike will watch how these athletes translate their high school success into the next level, potentially reshaping the state’s reputation on the national stage.