‘BASEBALL CAPITAL OF TEXAS’ GEARING UP FOR 2021 CUBS CAMPAIGN

For the first time since the pandemic halted play March 13^th, the Brenham Cubs baseball team took to the field, Friday for workouts.

The Cubs have begun preparations for the 2021 season, which gets underway in just 26 days at Firemen’s Park.

“Our 2020 season ending the way it did was a tough blow for our guys (players and staff).  To this group, baseball is a whole lot more than a game,” says Cubs Head Coach Chase Wheaton.

“Our passions, disciplines, purpose, brotherhood, and countless other things were put on hold.  To say It’s good to be back is an understatement.  Seeing them take the field again is a special deal.  We have definitely learned not to take it for granted.”As the 2020 season came to a screeching halt, the Cubs had won eight out of their last nine games and were eager to erase the bad taste the 2019 season had left in their mouths.

Now, back on the field, Wheaton says this year’s version of the Cubs have responded incredibly well. “The excitement is something we see every year but this year feels a little different.  Because of the quarantine shutdown last year, and the restrictions we’ve had so far, it's exciting for all of us to be out on the field and breathe in the spring air...even if it is from behind a mask.”

Wheaton says it’s an “incredibly powerful thing to watch kids having fun again in an environment where we can celebrate our accomplishments and pick each other up when we need to rely on others.”

The Cubs were hit hard by graduations in 2020.  Eight full or part time starters were part of last spring’s graduating class.  But the squad does return several players who either started or contributed last year, including: seniors, Ben Bosse, Jake Kolkhorst, Henry Cone and Parker Mason; juniors, Ethan Jezierski and Cade Warmke; and sophomore, Jacob Mabie.

The Cubs will also be counting on a strong group of move ups from the 2020 JV and Freshman teams.“It would be cliche to say we are counting on seniors or rely on the best players to step up into an active leadership role” said Wheaton.  “While that’s something every baseball coach would hope for, we are looking at a more holistic approach.  We expect everyone on the team to be a leader.  To accept their responsibility and move forward for the greater good of the team.  It's a difficult task when relying on an adolescent to accept a role that he may not feel is appropriate.  But not only are we here teaching our guys to be the best players on the field, we are cultivating young men into being great leaders in life.”

Wheaton says he and his staff are looking for incremental improvement over the duration of the season.  “Baseball is a process and we have to be prepared to learn and adapt to what is happening around us.  Our immediate focus is to lay the strongest foundation we can so we can build on that.”

“We want to put them in familiar situations for review and skill development but we will also push the envelope to make sure we are prepared for adversity and think clearly during difficult times.  If we embrace the process, we will see significant returns on confidence and performance.”

The Cubs will take to the field, Monday, February 8^th for a scrimmage with Grand Oaks at Firemen’s Park.

Two weeks later, the Cubs will open the season at home to Hutto at 6:30.  The team will travel to the Spring Branch Tournament the following weekend, then host the Brenham/Montgomey Tournament and the Alumni Association Tourney the following weekends.

The District 19/5A opener is set for Tuesday, March 16 at Katy Paetow.

Cubs Baseball can be heard throughout the season on AM 1280 KWHI, FM 101.7 and www.kwhi.com.