Borders ecstatic entering Year 2 with Catfish after breakout freshman season

Cape's Quinton Borders throws across the diamond during a Thursday, June 6, 2024 game between the Cape Catfish and the Dubois County Bombers at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Cape defeated Dubois County, 3-2.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Part of a deep Jackson heart of the Cape Catfish roster, Quinton Borders has been a big part of the order through the past couple weeks.

Fresh off an appearance in the NJCAA Division I World Series in May, the Crowder College rising sophomore made big strides in his first year out of high school.

A 2023 Jackson alum, Borders’ role in the Indians’ first-ever trip to the state final four marked the end of a prosperous career for him in red and black.

It also helped push him to the collegiate level, where he excelled in his first season with a big role in the Roughriders’ deep playoff run this past season.

“The season went pretty well,” Borders said. “Got quite a bit of playing time, learned a lot. My coach Travis Solomon, great guy, lot of respect there.

“World Series – really cool, really awesome experience. Once a lifetime thing, but hoping to be back next year.”

As a true freshman, Borders played in 28 games for the Roughriders, and quickly made a splash impact as one of the team’s best batters.

He maintained a team-best batting average of .392, with an impressive OPS of .999, just a hair under that heralded 1.000 mark as he dominated junior college competition.

That huge college season made it a no-brainer for the Catfish to invite him back for a second season in the Cape green and gold, and he was glad to take that opportunity.

“I didn't explore anything else,” Borders said. “I live very close to here, and I just love the atmosphere here. It's just a great place to be.”

One of seven players to hail from local Jackson High School on the roster, Borders has a band of brothers in the dugout that helped sway that decision as well.

That includes two players from his graduating class, Henley Parker and Steven Schneider, part of that tremendous 2023 class that pushed Jackson to heights previously unknown.

They join 2022 graduates Cameron Marchi and Will Richardson, 2020 graduate Lane Crowden and most recently, 2024 graduate John-Paul Sauer, one of the team’s top starters.

For those seven, it’s an exciting homecoming opportunity as they push for Prospect League title in their own backyard.

“It feels like old times again,” Borders said. “I mean, it’s just great being back with them. I know how they play.”