Rafe Byassee signs with Williams Baptist

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Rafe Byassee recently signed to continue his academic and baseball career at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Byassee helped lead the Eagles to their first district championship in more than two decades while playing second base last season.

“[Byassee] has been a pleasure to coach,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “He is a very competitive and scrappy player. He is a winner and has devoted a lot of time to get to this point.”

Scott said Byassee’s biggest strength on the diamond was his knowledge of the game and baseball IQ.

“He is a very smart player,” Scott continued. “He’s like having a coach on the field. He can play multiple positions well and is a very good contact hitter. As a person, he is very respectful and a great teammate. He leads by example and encourages his teammates to be better.

Byassee batted .275 last season with 25 total hits, including three doubles and a home run for 24 RBIs while also scoring 26 runs and stealing three bases. He also had a .865 fielding percentage.

Byassee said he decided to make a decision and commit to his next school before his senior year of baseball because he’s dedicated to having the best season possible with his teammates.

Rafe Byassee takes a swing during Valley Park's 6-5 win over East Prairie in the MSHSAA Class 3 Quarterfinals at H.A. Jones Park in East Prairie, Mo., on Thursday, May 26. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“I knew if I waited there would be a lot of pressure to perform,” Byassee said. “I felt like if I committed early before my senior season started, then I can just go out there and play.”

Williams Baptist finished the past season with a 26-30 overall record and competes at the NAIA level as a member of the American Midwest Conference.

Byassee is undecided on a major.

“I’m just looking forward to the experience of playing at the next level,” Byasssee said. “[Head] coach [Stephen] Abanathy and the team were very welcoming and just seemed like a place and program that I would greatly enjoy being a part of. I love the campus. Not a lot of people get this opportunity and it will be pretty cool to say I played college baseball.”