Caruthersville athlete taking 'fundamental' skills, high intellect to next level

Over the course of the past three years, the Caruthersville High School football and baseball programs have blossomed into Bootheel-area powers, and at the heart of both squads has been Ryan Guest contributing to much of that success.

“I consider Ryan a calculated kid,” Tiger baseball coach Joey Middleton said. “He thinks on a higher level when it comes to sports.”

Guest also plays at a higher level, which is precisely why he was recruited by, and recently signed with NAIA baseball program Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas.

“I’ve never seen Ryan crumble under pressure,” Middleton continued. “He embraces pressure.”

No one would know that more than Middleton.

He not only has served as Guest’s coach in baseball but also was the Tigers’ offensive coordinator in football and coached Guest at quarterback over the past three seasons.

“Ryan embraces competition,” Middleton said. “The thing that defines Ryan is his work ethic.”

Middleton coached Guest for five years in baseball and football, starting when he was in middle school. Guest will begin his fourth season as a starting shortstop for the Tigers next month, and he also has been “one of the ace pitchers” for Caruthersville, as well, according to Middleton.

“I’ve been with him for a while,” Middleton said. “His work ethic is what defines him.”

Guest brings intellect to both sports, but he has the athleticism to play either middle infield spot, which is where the Mustangs project him in the future.

“Ryan is extremely fundamental on all levels of baseball,” Middleton said. “At the plate, he is super disciplined. He has a fundamental swing. He is very fundamental in the field in all aspects.

“He is just a very fundamentally sound kid.”

That ability has translated to success for the Tigers.

In baseball, Guest has been a key piece in the growth of the program from three wins in his freshman season to eight (in 2023) and 17 victories last spring. That number was the most for a Caruthersville baseball team since 2016.

In football, Guest has quarterbacked an offense that improved from 31 points per game in 2022 and four victories to nearly 38 points per game this past fall and a 10-win season, which was the most by the program since 2018.

“Ryan has good range (defensively),” Middleton said. “He can cover deep in the hole at third (base) and he can cover behind second base (too). He definitely has the arm strength.”

Middleton said Central Baptist, which won 38 games a year ago, also plans on utilizing Guest, who throws in the 80s (m.p.h.) on the mound.

“They are going to throw him some innings,” Middleton said.

Ironically, the final football game that Guest played in his career was a loss to Valle Catholic in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 championship game, and the Tigers will open the baseball season on March 21 against the Warriors.