By Chris Parker
Cassville baseball has a new head coach in Simon Beeson. He takes over a program coming off an 11-14 season. The Wildcats have not posted a winning record since 2016.
Beeson, who enters his first season as a head coach, has been an assistant at Cassville for two seasons and at Columbia Battle for seven.
He said he was attracted to take over as head coach of Cassville because of “deep family roots here in Cassville and the desire to cultivate a culture of discipline, sacrifice, and hard work.”
Five starters return.
The pitching staff will feature Bodee Rose (senior), Evan Butler (senior), Colton Roark (junior) and Easton Hughes (sophomore).
Rose is able to locate pitches well and make it deep into games. Butler has a live fastball and late-breaking slider that keeps hitters off balance. Roark brings a high-velocity fastball and the ability to locate. Hughes is a left-hander who saw varsity action as a freshman.
Rose will be a team leader.
“Bodee Rose (has) grown into the vocal leader we’ve needed him to be,” Beeson said. “His willingness to work when nobody believes it really matters is what sets him apart. (He is a) vocal leader and leads by example.”
Simon Gates (senior) and Carlos Barrientos (sophomore) will be behind the plate.
The spots in the field are an open competition.
“Nothing projected yet as guys will have to earn the spot come tryouts/practice,” Beeson said. “Every position is considered open, and I believe my guys would agree with that mentality.”
Pitching and defense will be strengths for Cassville.
“We’re going to lean heavy on our ability to limit the other team’s offensive production by putting an emphasis on making the routine plays and not trying to be too fine on the mound,” Beeson said. “Keep the defense live and awake by throwing consistent challenge pitches in the zone and allow the strength of our team (defense) to work for us.”
Beeson will look to bring a new philosophy to the offensive side of things.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that we’ve struggled to put up runs over recent years, so the philosophy and mindset at the plate has to fundamentally change,” Beeson said.
Cassville opens the season on Mar. 21 at Strafford.
“I’m looking for growth day in and day out, I don’t want to put a limit on the expectations I have for my players,” Beeson said. “I expect their very best level of focus and intensity for every moment they’re here because those are the necessary sacrifices in order to find success both on, and off, the field.”
