It is noticeable to everybody how much baseball means to Chance McCarty.

The Mexico senior signed to play for Missouri Valley College in Marshall and made that clear during a ceremony on May 5 at the Mexico Sports Complex. McCarty holds the school’s career hit by pitch record with 23 through 26 games in senior year and ranks second on the team this season in batting average (.372), hits (32) and slugging percentage (.430). 

McCarty said he has been playing baseball since preschool age and has always loved the game.

Chance McCarty Signing Photo Gallery

“I’m more than excited,” McCarty said. “I’ve always wanted to keep playing baseball. I’m just happy to keep playing.”

Missouri Valley College is in a familiar town of Marshall, where Mexico’s conference rivals are located. McCarty, who plans to study health sciences, has visited the town multiple times because of that alone, and the campus convinced him that it was the place for him. 

“Missouri Valley is a place that feels like home,” McCarty said. “It’s not too far from home but just far enough away that I can be myself out there. It’s not a giant town and feels like Mexico. It’s like a home away from home.”

Head coach Daniel McCarty has seen several players sign for college, including McCarty’s teammate Drew DeMint for Columbia College in the last year. He said it means a lot this time to see his son seize his dream. 

Daniel McCarty has witnessed up close how much baseball means to Chance. He added he is thankful to the previous seniors such as Sam Ryan, who signed to play baseball for Central Methodist during the previous school year, for “setting the tone” and demonstrating what good leadership and dedication looks like.

“He’s contributed as far as getting on base and defensive-wise,” Daniel McCarty said. “It’s something he’s worked hard towards. It’s something that’s exciting and is something he’s wanted to do. I feel like he can go in and make that program better.”

McCarty said Chance didn’t let his height disadvantage discourage him. He said his son just worked harder in the weight room to become stronger, and this helped him improve in every aspect of the game. Strength also helped DeMint secure a spot with Columbia College, according to McCarty, as that literally builds college players.

“He wouldn’t be where he’s right now with his hitting sessions or hitting average without having that strength,” Daniel McCarty said. “He’s bulked up in the last year. It helped him develop and mature.”

Chance McCarty said he has added about 50 pounds with his strength training after “probably being 4-foot-10” during freshman year. He has actively tried getting “one percent better every day,” and that has added up over time.

“I decided something needed to change,” McCarty said. “I needed a little more pop. The stats don’t really show it because I have just as many doubles, but I’m hitting a lot of baseballs a lot harder and am seeing a lot better results. My arm is getting a lot better, for example.”

While McCarty has improved in multiple areas of the game, he said remains “a big defense guy” because “defense wins games.” He mainly wants to focus on helping the team win.

Before this season ends, McCarty wants to accomplish great things like a state tournament run with the rest of the Bulldogs. Recently, he, DeMint, Brady Fox, Kaden Benne and Kinser Groves were recognized during Senior Night, and McCarty said it has been a fun ride with them.

“I feel like I’ve made some friends that I’m going to keep for a long time,” McCarty said. “We all get along. There’s no arguing between us. We just all play for each other and play together.”