Signing with Catfish to be good transition to next level for Jackson standout

Jackson High School baseball standouts Quinton Borders and Caden Bogenpohl have spent time competing on the beautiful turf at Capaha Field on many occasions, including Monday’s SEMO Conference Tournament championship game against Kennett.

That feeling will only grow this summer, as both have signed to play for the Cape Catfish for the entirety of the 2023 season.

“This is an option that we have,” Catfish General Manager Mark Hogan said of signing high school players. “I guess that we will find out if it works, but I am excited about the abilities that these kids have. I don’t think that they will be overwhelmed by (the Prospect League).

“I do think that there will be some adjustments, just like there is for everybody.”

The two Jackson stars are part of a five-player group, who have signed directly out of high school.

“(Coach Hogan) talked with my dad,” Borders explained of the signing process. “He came out to see me (play) and that is how it got rolling.”

Borders plays third base for the Indians, who are ranked No. 8 in Class 6 this season and have won 21 games leading into Monday’s title game.

As a junior, Borders led Jackson with a .476 batting average and earned All-District, All-Conference, and Academic All-State honors.

“Quinton is a very good defensive third baseman,” first-year Jackson coach Jason Roach said. “He has a really, really powerful bat and hits it to all parts of the field.”

Borders has signed to play at Crowder Community College next fall, and he views the Catfish as a great opportunity to transition to baseball at the next level.

“I’m excited,” Borders said. “I think that it is going to be a good learning experience, for sure. Just to see some good (pitching) arms, the best of the best, and it will get me ready for college.”

The Catfish will play 58 games in 67 days this summer, which sounds daunting, but not to Borders.

“I have played Legion (baseball) and a travel team (Midwest Mavericks),” Borders said of prior summers.

The challenge of battling against high-level college players is going to happen to Borders in a few months, so he may as well dive into the challenge now.

Crowder College sent 16 players to the NCAA Division I level in 2022, alone.

“They really focus on player development,” Borders said. “They have really great coaching. It just felt like the right fit.”

Borders and Bogenpohl will have to make quick adjustments to new coaches, at Crowder and Missouri State, respectively, but that isn’t anything new to either of them.

Roach and his staff are new to the Indian program this spring, as are new Catfish manager Scott Little and his staff this summer.

Borders explained that his adjustment to the new Jackson coaching staff has gone very well this season.

“They have really helped me with my mental game,” Borders said. “They have focused on that and that is a part of my game that has been missing.

“It has really been big (for me) to improve that.”