Former Malden baseball star does what he does with Catfish, hit and win

Perhaps the only person more excited about Dee Triplett playing for the Cape Catfish this summer is his mother, Malden resident, Yvonne Triplett.

“This makes me feel real good,” Yvonne said while recently watching her son play first base at Capaha Field. “It’s a lot closer than four hours.”

Yvonne won’t have to make the four-hour trek to Lebanon, Tenn. this summer to watch Dee compete, where he plays for Cumberland University, and Dee is happy to have this opportunity, as well.

“I knew about the Catfish for a while,” Dee said. “I have wanted to play for them for a while, but I had waited too late, and the team had already been put together.”

Triplett played for Mineral Area Community College following his graduation from Malden High School.

As a sophomore at Mineral Area, the 6-foot-1, 258-pound athlete pounded out nine home runs and drove in 36 runs.

“I hit the ball hard,” Triplett said. “I have a little bit of power.”

But he can also hit for contact.

That spring, he connected at a .378 rate and scored 46 times, as he helped Mineral Area win 31 games and its second consecutive Missouri Community College Athletic Conference title.

Triplett’s adjustment to college was seamless coming out of Malden.

As a freshman, Triplett hit .388 in 129 at-bats, while banging out 13 home runs and scoring 38 times.

His 50 RBIs were second on the 30-win team, which also won a league title.

“I like the home runs,” Yvonne said. “And him being humble.”

In talking to Dee, you don’t get the sense that he has been as productive of a college athlete as he has. Everywhere he has played, he has hit the ball well.

This past spring, in his first season at the NAIA level, he did what he always does, which is produce for a winning program.

In 51 games, he hit .361 (fifth on the team), drove in 76 runs (three shy of leading the team), hit 17 doubles (leading the team), connect for 61 hits (third on the team), score 64 times (second on the team), and smoke 17 home runs (third on the team). And yes, Cumberland won games.

The Phoenix finished 36-15-1 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament.

“Dee is a humble kid,” Yvonne continued, “who is very appreciative to just play ball.”

Yvonne said that even in T-ball, Dee showed promise and passion for the game.

“He was knocking the ball around even then,” Yvonne said. “And he has always had a heart for baseball.”

As far as this summer goes, Dee isn’t so concerned with his offensive game, but his defensive ability.

“I want to get better around the (first base) bag,” Triplett said.

Also, as he has at both Mineral Area and Cumberland, Triplett wants to contribute to the bigger picture.

“I want to win (a Prospect League) ring,” Triplett said. “They are traditional winners and I want to continue doing that and help in any way that I can.”

Triplett has notched five hits in as many games for the Catfish this summer, who improved to a perfect 8-0 with a win over Rex Baseball at Capaha Field on Thursday.

Two of those five hits have been doubles and Triplett has also scored six times and drawn four walks already this summer.

Cape will visit O’Fallon on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

The Catfish will return to Capaha Field on Monday against the Thrillville Thrillbillies at 6:35 p.m.