Fayette senior pitcher Ethan Bean signed his national letter of intent on Feb. 17 to play baseball at Central Methodist University next season. The senior pitcher made it official during a signing ceremony alongside battery mate Payton Oeth, who committed as a catcher to State Fair Community College the same day.

Bean said he chose Central Methodist because of the coaches and the campus atmosphere.

“The campus was just amazing, and I really liked the coaches there,” Bean said. “They were all very personable, and it felt like home.”

Bean pitched 33 innings for the Falcons last season, finishing with a 5.200 ERA and 31 strikeouts. At the plate, he posted a .273 batting average with 16 singles, two doubles, and eight RBI last season.

While signed as a pitcher, Bean could also see time at middle infield. Academically, he plans to study physical therapy with the goal of earning his doctorate.

Fayette coach Andy Oeth said CMU will be a great fit. “Their pitching development is really good. I’m really excited to see him jump into that program. He could really be a difference-maker in the future. I know they plan to use his arm. With the kind of pitcher he is, that fits him really well.”

Bean, a lanky right-hander, has a fastball that can reach the mid-80s. But it’s his curveball that stands out amidst his arsenal.

“His curveball is so nasty,” coach Oeth said. “Even if you see his snap, it still mimics a fastball, and then about halfway, it tanks. It’s one that has really fooled a lot of hitters. We really like to utilize his breaking stuff. And he can really sling it.”

And it’s not just Bean’s pitches that set him apart. It’s his stoicism on the mound. “My favorite thing about Ethan is that nothing gets him down,” Coach Oeth said. “When he’s on the mound, it’s really fun to watch him work because you’re not going to phase him.”

Coach Oeth hopes that the defense can rise to the challenge behind Bean this season. The Falcons finished 6-17 overall a year ago, two seasons after going above .500 for the first time in decades in 2023. Fayette nearly reached the district finals last fall, losing to rival Westran 2-1 in the semifinals.

Winning a district championship is a goal for Bean in his senior season. “I hope we can come out and show that we are not what our record showed last year or the year before. As a team, I hope we can win districts. We’ve been practicing in the off-season more than ever.”

And Bean said he looks forward to pitching to Oeth in their final seasons in the black and gold. The two have played together for nearly a decade, starting in summer leagues in Boonville. “He always has the best spots. No one ever steals on him.”

Coach Oeth said signing two seniors before the season begins provides a boost to the team, which opens practice on Monday.

“To have two college signees going into the spring gives our whole program a lift. They feel pretty confident going into the season with those two guys behind the wheel,” he said. “One of my favorite things is to see Ethan pitching to Payton. We feel confident when that’s going on. They are a strong battery for sure.”

Bean thanked his coaches and parents for sticking by him on the mound. “I want to thank my dad. He sparked my passion for it,” he said.

Central Methodist opened the season 5-4 as of Monday. Under 12-year head coach Nate Breland, the perennially dominant Eagles won their third Heart Regular Season Championship in the last four years a year ago, with an overall record of 44-11 and a 28-4 mark in conference play. Central punched their ticket to the NAIA Opening Round for the eighth consecutive year in 2024, leading Breland to be named the Heart Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

The Falcons, who share the recently-renovated Estes Field with the Eagles, open the season at home on Sat., March 21, against Higbee. The first pitch is at noon.