A familiar name has returned to the Three Rivers baseball program this season and has immediately become the ace of the Raider pitching staff.
Poplar Bluff native Noah Burkey decided to go the junior college route for his baseball career after departing from Missouri State in the fall.
"I felt like it was for the best for my career to part ways with Missouri State," Burkey said. "I'm glad I decided to come home and play for Three Rivers and we're really turning a corner in the middle of the season here."
Burkey didn't get to pitch in an official game for the Bears in 2021, but he did pick up five strikeouts in two innings during a scrimmage in October. Over the summer, he played for the Cape Catfish where he went 7-1 in 13 appearances, 12 of them starts. Prior to college, Burkey was a Poplar Bluff Mule for three years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic cancelling his senior season.
In December, he decided to transfer to Three Rivers, a team he's been around his whole life as his father, Stacey Burkey, was a coach for the Raiders for 33 years before retiring in 2020.
The elder Burkey is now watching games at Roger Pattillo Field instead of coaching.
"I've been wearing black and gold my whole life," Noah Burkey said. "It definitely feels right to be playing for Three Rivers."
Through 11 appearances with the Raiders, Burkey is 2-3 with an ERA of 4.71 and has struck out 43 batters so far. He's gotten the starting nod from coach Tyler Smith nine times and has tossed two complete games.
"Noah is our number one guy," Smith said. "It was really nice after Coach Burkey had coached here forever to get him in the black and gold and Noah has really stepped up in a leadership role. It's amazing to see a guy come in around Christmas and immediately have an impact on the guys around him. Everybody on the team loves him."
Burkey's best outing was on March 4 when he tossed a complete game two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in the Raiders' 7-0 win over Marshalltown.
"Noah is always going to give you a chance to win," Smith continued. "I feel confident in him as a coach when I give him the ball and I wish I had a lot more like him because guys like Noah make a coach's job a lot easier."
Despite leaving a scholarship at a four-year school, Burkey's stop at Three Rivers has made him grow as a pitcher and has gotten him another scholarship back to a NCAA Division I program at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
"The JUCO level is definitely a grind," Burkey said. "Playing doubleheaders every gameday, long bus rides and things like that make you grow as a player."
Burkey and the Raiders will be home on Thursday hosting St. Charles.
Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic