Cushing High School junior Beau Ladd is already a cornerstone for the Tigers’ baseball program, a steady first baseman whose quiet leadership and blue-collar approach fit the town he represents. He brings consistency in the field and at the plate, but he also brings a genuine love for the game and for the people around him.
Ladd draws his inspiration from home, crediting his parents, Dustin and Cheri Ladd, for the way they continually put their own problems aside to help him work through his own. He says that willingness to sacrifice is the kind of parent he hopes to become one day, a long-term goal that shapes the way he carries himself now. That perspective shows up in the way he treats his teammates and coaches, always willing to listen, learn and lend a hand where it is needed.
In the classroom, Ladd is a junior who gravitates toward classes that challenge him in different ways. His favorite subject is firefighting, a course that appeals to his interest in hands-on work and service, while English stands out among his core classes. He lists Mrs. Anita Morris as his favorite teacher, a nod to educators who have helped him balance academics with a demanding athletic schedule.
On the field, Ladd anchors first base, a position he says requires being the leader of the infield every pitch. The challenge of staying locked in defensively, communicating with teammates and being ready for anything hit his way is what he identifies as the most difficult part of the job. He embraces baseball’s small superstitions, too, calling the best unwritten rule in the sport “don’t step on the foul line before a game.” At the plate, his favorite pitch to hit is a middle‑middle fastball, the kind of challenge he looks for when he steps into the box.
What Ladd enjoys most about being part of Cushing baseball is the laughter and camaraderie he shares with his teammates and coaches. He says the Tigers have a team full of personalities, and he appreciates that even when they do not have to be serious, they can flip the switch when it is time to compete. Catcher Braxton Coldeslure is, in his words, the most vocal teammate, while Kyler Simon is the one who keeps everyone laughing. That mix of voices helps keep the dugout loose during long spring days.
Away from school and baseball, Ladd enjoys building things out of scraps of wood and metal, a hobby that mirrors his methodical approach on the diamond. He also likes hunting, fishing and playing video games with friends when he has the chance to relax. Much of his free time, though, is spent with his girlfriend, Kelsey Levin, whose support adds another layer to his strong off-the-field foundation.
Athletics have taught Ladd that no matter how difficult a situation is, it is better to keep pushing until it is over rather than quitting on himself or his team. That mindset, combined with his respect for the game and the people around him, makes him a key piece of what Cushing is building on the baseball field and a reflection of the community he represents.
