A year ago, Evan Abercrombie was ecstatic when he received his first all-state baseball award.

“All-state was a goal I set in my freshman year because I saw some of the guys before me do it like Colin Parrish, my brother (Ethan) and (Hyrum) Bishop,” Abercrombie said. “A lot of the guys on that Final Four team got all-state. So it’s been a goal of mine for a really long time. When I finally did it in my junior year, it felt really good.”

On June 13, the Montgomery County senior brought home another all-state award. He was named honorable mention pitcher on the Class 3 all-state team, which is selected by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association. Abercrombie was one of 58 players on the all-state team.

“They say a lot of people can do it once, but doing it twice is the real test,” Abercrombie said. “For a lot of people in all sports, when they have a really good junior season, they won’t have quite as good of a senior season because teams learn how to stop them and play against them. So it was huge for me going into my senior year to have just as good if not better of a season than my junior season. I didn’t want to be that person who had a super great junior season, but not so good of a senior season. It feels really good. I’m looking to carry this success into college.”

Abercrombie wrapped up an outstanding high school baseball career that included two all-Eastern Missouri Conference awards and a trip to the Class 3 Final Four in his freshman year.

“It flew by in a blink of an eye,” said Abercrombie, who also played for the Rawlings Tigers select baseball team in St. Louis. “Everything that I ever wanted for my high school athletic career has happened. I’ve been part of conference championships and district championships. It’s been one heck of a ride. I even got to watch, in my opinion, some of the best athletes to come through our school. It’s been really fun.”

Abercrombie helped the Wildcats finish 10-8 this spring. He picked up several victories on the mound, including a 6-0, no-hit win over Silex in MCHS’ home opener on March 28.

Last year, Abercrombie was the only MCHS player to receive all-state honors as he was selected second-team pitcher. This year, Abercrombie had company as he was one of four Wildcats being named to the all-state team. Senior Ethan Rakers (first team catcher), junior Travis Hill (honorable mention infielder) and sophomore Jace Ellis (second team outfielder).

“When I heard we got four guys on the all-state team, it proved that we were a good ballclub,” Abercrombie said. “We had a lot of talent on that team. I was happy for my teammates.”

MCHS had nine all-state players in the last three seasons. The Wildcats had five all-state selections in 2019, the same year they finished fourth in the state.

One of those 2019 all-state selections was Abercrombie’s older brother, Ethan, who is now playing baseball at Lindenwood University. Ethan earned second-team infielder honors.

Abercrombie credits his older brother for his successful baseball career at MCHS.

“We both push each other, playing catch out in the backyard or whatever,” Abercrombie said. “Pretty much my whole life, my brother has been one of my best coaches as far as motivating me and telling me what I’m doing wrong. He is always willing to come out and help me.”

Now, Abercrombie is preparing for his freshman season at Missouri Southern State University. He will join a program that finished with a winning record in each of the last eight seasons.

“It’s a little bit intimidating, but I think I’m doing a good job of preparing for it,” said Abercrombie, who signed a letter of intent to play for the NCAA Division II school in Joplin on Nov. 18. “I’m training all summer and I’m learning little adult things because I’m going to be out on my own. I think I’m doing a good job of preparing myself for the transition. I’m going from being a senior in high school and being a leader the younger guys look at to being a college freshman. It might be a little hard, but I think I’m prepared for it.”