USA TODAY NAMES KERN MISSOURI'S TOP PLAYER

Robert Kern's approach to the game of baseball is very simple: Improve every single day.

That view and an abundance of talent have earned the Cape Girardeau Central High outfielder virtually every local honor a baseball player can get. Now he's catching a glimpse of the national limelight after being named USA Today's Player of the Year for the state of Missouri.

The nationally circulated newspaper announced it's first- and second-team All-USA High School selections in Wednesday's edition. The paper also named a top player and several honorable mentions from each state. Players were chosen based on information from high school and college coaches.

Kern had no idea about his selection until he read the paper Wednesday morning and was dumbfounded to see his name.

"I try to do the best I can every game but at the start of this year my goal was not to be Missouri's player of the year; my goal was to hit the ball every time I stepped to the plate," Kern said. "I just want to keep getting better."

Kern played center field for Cape Central during his senior season and batted a tremendous .563 average with six home runs, one triple, 14 doubles and 30 RBIs. That performance was good enough for the Chicago Cubs to draft him during last month's amateur draft. Kern, who was taken in the 35th round, has instead opted to play next season at Jefferson College in Hillsboro.

Cape Central baseball coach Steve Williams was excited about the USA Today recognition.

"That's great for everyone," Williams said. "Of course it's outstanding for Robert and caps off his whole year, but for our school to have a player of his caliber come through our program also reflects well on us."

Kern played just two years at Central after transferring from Vanfar High School near Vandalia, Mo. As a junior, he played right field while helping lead Central to the Class 4A state title. Playing with the Ford and Sons American Legion Post 63 baseball squad this summer, Kern is back in right field, a position he prefers over center.

However, he is willing to take on the challenge of a new position. Earlier this week, Kern pitched competitively for the first time since little league. Though he lost the game (in large measure to the lack of offense from his team), he demonstrated that he can do the job and pitched a complete game while holding the opposition scoreless for the final eight innings.

"I lot of people said they didn't think I could throw strikes and didn't think I could do it," Kern said. "I don't like anyone saying I can't do something."