The reigning ‘A’ West Player of the Year in Legion baseball has signed on to continue his athletic and academic career. Powell High School and Powell Pioneer senior Cade Queen will continue his baseball career at Montana State University-Billings next year.

Queen finished last season as a first team All-State player for the first time, making a jump at the plate with a .393 batting average, 86 hits, 10 home runs and 75 RBIs this past season.

He was instrumental in the Pioneers’ success, winning their first title in 13 years, also holding a 2.838 ERA on the mound alongside 103 strikeouts with a 6-6 record and six saves.

As a Pioneer, Queen has served in various capacities as a pitcher along with rotating in at third base and shortstop for the team, something he said will be a key in his success at the next level.

“I will probably be a utility guy,” Queen said. “I think that’s somewhere I can expand. I want to play different positions, the more I can be on the field and less on the bench, that’s important to me.”

In addition to being an All-State baseball player, Queen is a two-time All-State tennis player, but eventually settled on baseball due to his comfort on the diamond.

“I was considering tennis, but overall baseball I have had a lot more time and experience,” Queen said. “I think it’s an area that I can really expand. I wish I could do both.”

He said that he was looking at other colleges for baseball as well, but ultimately decided to go to MSU-Billings after visiting the campus and speaking with the coaching staff.

“MSU-Billings stood out to me because of the coaches,” Queen said. “I went on a tour there, everybody was really friendly and the coaches gave me the time of day. They appreciated me being there and I think that speaks volumes. I’ve heard lots about the coaches and the culture there.”

Staying close to home also played a factor in Queen’s decision, helping make it an easy transition heading to the next level being only an hour and a half from home.

“It’ll be a good transition for me because I can just zip home on the weekends if I need to,” Queen said. “My family and friends can come watch. That was a factor for sure.”

Throughout his time on the Pioneers he said he has received a lot of support from both his family and the community, helping him blossom into one of the top players at the ‘A’ level.

“Like my mom says, it takes a village,” Queen said. “I feel like there is a lot of support around me for me to do well academically and athletically.”

The Yellowjackets have a 4-10 record in the midst of their 2024 season, competing at the NCAA Division II level.

Academically, he said that he is looking to move into the General Science Broadfield program at MSU-Billings.

“I would like to go into the sciences academically. I am not sure what careers yet,” Queen said. “I want to explore those fields and get to know what I would like to do.”