Airedale Prep Focus
Cade Moore on baseball slumps, his future, and being the principal’s son
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
It’s not as though Alma first baseman Cade Moore bleeds green in the literal sense.
But figuratively?
“I was born to a valedictorian/great athlete mother (Manesseh Moore) and a grandfather (Mike Higgins) who has been on the school board for as long as I’ve been alive,” explains Cade, a month shy of starting his senior year of high school.
“It’s been rooted in me from the day I was born,” Moore continued. “It means a lot to me to be able to represent this town and the people in it for one last season.”
Plenty of Moore’s classmates have gone to school with their parents, be it at Alma Primary School or Alma High School. But this year will be far different, he said, now that his mom, Manesseh, is taking over as the high school principal.
“I already know that my senior year is going to go by quickly, just like the last three years,” he said. “It will be different knowing my mom is the principal, and seeing her in the professional work mode rather than the mom mode I normally know her as. I see my senior year being the best one yet.”
Moore finished the summer by helping lead Fort Smith’s double-A American Legion team (Forsgren) to the semifinals of the 28-team state tournament. He had two RBIs in the team’s quarterfinals win over North Central Arkansas.
Moore finished the summer strong, driving in four runs in the team’s final three games. Despite putting the ball in play, the hits just weren’t falling back in the spring.
“My sanity was very close to being lost multiple times,” Moore said. “(But) I really believe that if you play the game the right way, it will reward you. I think every game is just as meaningful, even if it’s with Forsgren. I was grateful to have some Alma teammates on my Legion team.
“Overall, my mentality and approach to the game were the same with Legion ball as they were with school ball.”
Like the green and gold colors he represents, baseball is rooted in his DNA.
“Baseball is something that my parents both loved growing up,” Moore said. “I started playing when I was four years old and haven't missed a year since. Watching the Cardinals growing up was a big reason why we love this sport, and getting to watch the Golden Pujols-Yadi (Yadier Molina) -Waino (Adam Wainwright) era - those were the people I looked up to and wanted to mold my game after.”
Not unlike his parents, both education administrators, Moore has excelled off the field as well, especially with Alma’s strong DECA program.
“DECA has been very beneficial to me, helping my time management grow and allowing me to network with adults, other students, and just people in general. My ranking coming into this school year is President of Alma DECA. I am excited to lead our chapter this year.”
Moore hopes to earn a business degree following graduation.
“I would like to do business management or marketing,” he said. “I also want to stay in touch with the community and be able to lead others to Christ and share the gospel.”
CADE’S STATS
Birthday: Sept. 19, 2008
Shares a birthday with Jim Abbott (MLB Pitcher) and Taylor Geare (actress)
Fun Fact: He is a rollercoaster nerd
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Athlete: Albert Pujols
Favorite Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Food: Fettuccine Alfredo
Go-To-Music: 2010’s pop
Favorite Teacher: Ashtan Sieber
Favorite Teammate: Landon Taylor
Quotable: “It will be different knowing my mom is the principal, and seeing her in the professional work mode rather than the mom mode I normally know her as. I see my senior year being the best one yet.” — Cade Moore, on his mom, Manesseh Moore, taking over the Alma High School Principal position