Bard enjoys big season at Mississippi Valley State

To say that Cape Girardeau's Sean Bard had an impressive rookie season in Division I college baseball would not even come close to doing him justice.

Bard had a monster year for Mississippi Valley State, leading the Delta Devils and ranking among the Southwestern Athletic Conference leaders in most offensive statistical categories.

"I worked hard and it felt good," said the soft-spoken Bard of his junior campaign. "I was real satisfied."

Bard, a 2004 Central High School graduate who played two seasons at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., received a nice reward for the work he did at Mississippi Valley State.

Bard has been invited to play for the Fairbanks Goldpanners in the prestigious Alaska Baseball League. He reports in less than two weeks, with the summer season set to begin June 14.

A host of former Goldpanners have reached the major leagues, including Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi.

"I'm real excited about that," Bard said. "There should be a lot of [professional] scouts at all the games."

Bard earned first-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors this year, while also making the league's all-academic squad by posting a 3.75 grade-point average.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound first baseman had a .376 batting average with nine home runs, 21 doubles, 71 hits, 44 runs scored and 52 runs batted in. All those figures led the squad.

In SWAC statistics, Bard was first in doubles, third in homers, fourth in RBIs, fourth in hits and tied for fifth in batting average.

Bard also ranked third in the league in on-base percentage (.476) and fourth in slugging percentage (.640), while tying for third in total bases (121) and fourth in walks (31).

"I always figured I could play like that," said Bard, whose offensive prowess could not help the Delta Devils avoid a 19-36 season. "It was just a matter of doing it."

After completing an impressive two-year career at Mineral Area College, Bard originally hoped to attend a university closer to home.

But he said Mississippi Valley State, located in the small town of Itta Bena, Miss., made him the best scholarship offer. He hasn't regretted his decision.

"At first I wanted to play closer to home," Bard said. "But I really liked the coach [Doug Shanks], and it was the best offer I got.

"I'm really happy playing there. It worked out well."

Bard said his ultimate goal is to play professionally, and he figures competing in the talent-rich Alaska Baseball League will help him toward that end.

Bard said Shanks has told him there is a possibility he could be selected in the late rounds of next month's amateur draft, but more likely he'll receive a pro opportunity following his senior season.

"I really want to eventually play pro ball," said Bard, who competed last summer for the Sikeston Bulls. "That's my goal and hopefully it will happen."