Cape Girardeau Public Schools (CGPS) has hired Matt Palmer as the head baseball coach at Cape Central High. Palmer, a Caruthersville native, joins the Tigers after serving as the American Leadership Academy’s high school baseball coach in Gilbert, Arizona for the last two years. Palmer took over an eight-win team and improved its record to 12-7 his first season, and 14-5 during his second season at the helm, including a trip to the state quarterfinals in Class 4.
Upon graduating from Caruthersville High, Palmer attended Three Rivers College on a baseball scholarship. After two successful years pitching at Three Rivers, he continued his college career at Southwest Missouri State University and was drafted in 2002 by the San Francisco Giants. Palmer spent 13 years in professional baseball, including parts of five years in the major leagues for the Giants, Angels, and Padres.
