Coming off a 32-22 overall season last year, Coach Matt McCue and the Frontier Bobcats Baseball team are determined to achieve another successful campaign. The highlights of last season included a 17-12 record in Region 24, a nine-game winning streak in March, a top-10 national ranking in team GPA, and 17 players advancing to four-year schools—nine of whom joined Division 1 programs.
"On the field, we had a lot of success. Truthfully, I think we underachieved last year. There were some games we let slip away. But at the end of the day, we can't be upset with 32 wins. We had a good group of players. Overall, it was a very successful season, but I still believe there are areas where our program can improve," said Coach McCue.
During the fall sports season, the Bobcats played several games and participated in showcases, including a special matchup in September against Olney Central College at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
"The fall season went great for us," said McCue. "We have a very new team this year, so we're much less experienced. But the season went well, and we learned a lot about ourselves. Some weaknesses and areas for improvement were exposed early on, which was really beneficial. We adjusted our training accordingly.
"We performed well at the showcases, played strong against some good teams, and held our own in games. What I've learned about this year's team is that they want to grow and are open to being coached. We've improved significantly, largely because we have a young, talented group of players who are all here for the same reasons. They're coachable, and I think we have a great opportunity to grow with players like that," he added.
Having seasoned veteran players returning to help lead the team is always an asset.
"We have a lot of players back this year, though not as many received significant playing time compared to last year's veterans," said Coach McCue. "Still, we've got a strong, vocal group of sophomores and returning players. They've done an excellent job setting the standard—being good teammates, training the right way, and leading by example.
"They'll guide us on the field in many ways as well. We're looking forward to seeing how that leadership continues to develop. This specific group of veterans is a bit more vocal compared to last year's veterans, which brings a new dynamic to the team," he added.
Coach McCue highlighted a few returning players to watch this season, including Cole Sims (SO, OF), Ty Becker (SO, 1B), Gael Salinas (RS-F, Utility), and Joaquin Gutierrez (SO, MIF). Notably, Sims has already signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Western Illinois University in Macomb next season.
This year's Bobcats Baseball team features 25 freshmen and a few transfer players.
"They're very athletic," said Coach McCue. "We have some talented freshmen and a handful of transfer sophomores. We brought in an outfielder and a few pitchers who will help shoulder the load. The leadership from our transfers has been excellent, bringing valuable experience to a younger team.
"As for the freshmen, I want to see them grow. I don't want them to have that 'deer in the headlights' look. I want them to feel free to make mistakes, to appreciate both the successes and the adversity they'll face. One of our themes this fall was to compete—no matter the score or the circumstances. We aim to compete on every play. If the last play didn't go well, the focus should shift to competing on the next one.
"Our goal is to instill a foundation of competition and resilience in these young players, and I'm hopeful this will help them develop into consistent ballplayers over the long term," McCue added.
Coach McCue highlighted several key transfers joining the team this season: Byler Reither (Missouri Southern State University; SO, RHP), Ethan Payne (Allen Community College; SO, RHP), Isaiah Thompson (Indiana State University; SO, OF), and Evan Hart (University of Kentucky; SO, LHP).
Reither has committed to playing baseball at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, next season. Payne has committed to Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. Thompson transferred in from Indiana State University, bringing additional depth to the roster. Hart joins Frontier following his time with the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team, where he was a member of their 2024 College World Series squad. In high school, Hart earned recognition as the 2022-2023 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year and was ranked as the #1 player in the state of Kentucky.
McCue also highlighted several promising freshmen, including Ian Olivier-Beaulieu (FR, RHP), Cam Napier (FR, MIF), Chance Pair (FR, C), and Sean McConachie (FR, C).
When asked about the team's goals for this season, Coach McCue emphasized a few key areas.
"Our mission and goal are to get our players ready for the next level," said McCue. "We have a lot of young players who have entrusted their futures to us, and we take that responsibility very personally. Our focus is on doing everything we can to help with their development.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of any sports program, and Coach McCue believes the recent success of the Bobcats has significantly bolstered their recruiting efforts.
"Recruiting has been very good," said McCue. "We've had a lot of success for several reasons, and the program's recent achievements have played a big role. A lot of credit goes to the players who put in the work.
"When we sit down with potential recruits, we make it a point to outline what they can expect. We talk about our values, our mission, and why we believe you won't find many coaching staff that work harder than we do to help players succeed. We call it the 'no surprises rule.' We're upfront about who we are, what we believe in, and what their day-to-day life might look like as part of this program.
"We also emphasize the importance of being involved in the community. Recruiting has been a rewarding experience; I've enjoyed getting to know the players and their families. At the college level, you're not just recruiting the player—you're also building trust with the parents. One of the things I focus on is communicating confidence to parents that they can trust us. They're entrusting us with their child for a couple of years, and we take that responsibility very seriously."
When asked about the team's goals for this season, Coach McCue emphasized a few key areas.
"On the field, I'd like to see us improve in a few areas. One specific goal is doing a better job of winning game twos of doubleheaders. Last year's team struggled with finishing doubleheader days properly. I also think we can perform better on the road compared to last season. Ultimately, we want to secure the best seed possible in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) postseason tournament," he added.
McCue shared his thoughts on the teams to watch in the GRAC.
"Since I've been here, Wabash Valley College and John A. Logan have been the teams to beat," said McCue. "We saw both this fall, and they have a lot of athletic ability and talent. I also think Southwestern Illinois College and Lincoln Trail College will be stronger this year and will compete for the top spot. We believe we'll be right up there with them."
When asked what fans can expect when attending a game at FNB Field on campus or on the road, McCue summed it up succinctly.
"Fans can expect to see a lot of new faces, but we're going to play hard, gritty Bobcat Baseball just like last year's group did. I think we have the potential to be just as good, if not better, than last year's team. That said, there may be more ups and downs this season. Growing pains can be tough, but they're part of the process.
"This is a great group—fun to watch and fun to coach. I encourage everyone to come out and catch a game at least once this year," McCue added.
The Bobcats kick off their season on Friday, January 31, at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. Their first home game at FNB Field is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, when they host Oakland City University at 12:00 noon.
For the full Bobcats Baseball roster, schedule, and more, visit fccbobcats.com. Home games will also be live-streamed on the Bobcat Nation YouTube channel.