Emmenderfer breaks single-season home run record

Cade Emmenderfer’s senior day is one he will remember forever.

In Cape Central’s 5-1 win over Ste. Genevieve on May 9, the senior outfielder clubbed his eighth home run of the season, good enough for the Cape Central single-season record that was set by Greg Smith in 1988 and Josh McIntosh in 2000.

“It means a lot,” Emmenderfer said. “I’ve put myself into Cape Central baseball history which is really cool.”

Emmenderfer said his ability to hit for power is a mix of cage work and off-the-field work,

“The main part of it for me has been the weight room,” Emmenderfer said. “In between junior and senior year, we hit the weight room hard. This accomplishment is just as much Coach (Aaron) King’s as it is mine. He is our strength and conditioning coach and if it wasn’t for him I don’t think I would have broken the record.

Cape Central coach Justin Lieser credited Emmenderfer’s work ethic for his success.

“Cade’s one of our hardest workers,” Lieser said. “Not only in the weight room and on the field but also in the classroom. The kid is just a hard worker and he doesn’t know any different, which is great.”

At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Emmenderfer will be hanging up his cleats and he will be attending the University of Missouri on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

“It feels good to go out with a record,” Emmenderfer said. “But, I really want to go out with a district title. That’s the goal, that’s been the goal all year and that’s all that matters.”

Lieser had high praise for Emmenderfer and his humbleness.

“Cade is a humble kid,” Lieser said. “He just wants to win. It’s not all about him, it’s about the team to him.”

The Tigers will have their chance to make a run at a district title when they begin play as the No. 3 seed in the Class 5 District 1 Tournament at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 when Cape Central takes on North County at Windsor High School.

The Tigers and Raiders have matched up once this season back on April 14 where Cape Central won 10-4.

If the Tigers can get by the Raiders, it would set up a matchup with the winner of No. 2 Festus and No. 7 Farmington with that game being played at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 20.

The championship game of the Class 5 District 1 Tournament is slated for 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 22 at Windsor High School.