DISTRICT CHAMPS! CUB BASEBALL DEFEATS MONTGOMERY 4-2 TO CLINCH THE TITLE

Doug Brown April 10, 2026

On a night where the rain nearly washed away their chances of playing, the Brenham Cub Baseball Team overcame the Montgomery Bears 4-2 to clinch the District 17-5A Championship last (Thursday) night at Fireman's Park.

Brayden Steele got the start for the Cubs on the mound and went six strong innings to get the win. Dawson Keim closed it out in the seventh inning to get the save.

Due to the rain that passed through the area, the start time was delayed until 8pm.

Once the game did get started it was a pitcher's duel between Steele and Montgomery's Brayden Rodriguez. Both pitchers took shutouts into the top of the fourth innning.

However, in the bottom of the fourth, Brenham started to break through against Rodriguez. Drake Bentke singled, Brody Tucker singled, and Landry Mendoza walked to load the bases.

Rodriguez was lifted from the game for looked like a possible injury, and Corben Stanley was brought into the game to pitch.

Steele greeted him in a big way with a grand slam over the left field fence, which gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

The Cubs celebrate Steele's Grand Slam
Kaylee Roznovsky)

Montgomery would later get their first run on the board in the top of the sixth inning on a solo homer by Wyatt Clewitt to cut the Brenham advantage to 4-1.

During the sixth inning, it was learned that Rudder had upset Lake Creek 3-2, which meant if the Cubs held on for the win, they would be outright district championships instead of just clinching a share of the title.

In the top of the seventh, Keim came on to close the game out. The Bears' Lance Ehlers reached on an error to start the inning. Keim then struck out the next two batters. Tate Harts smacked a double to put two on for Montgomery. Ehlers came home to score on a passed ball to cut the lead in half 4-2. Luke Hosler drew a walk to put runners at the corners. However, Keim got Chase Hiatt to ground one to Landry Mendoza for the final out, and the celebration was on.

The win improves Brenham to 19-8-1 on the season, and 10-0 in district.

The championship also turned out to be a great birthday present for Head Coach Chase Wheaton, who celebrated his 40th birthday.

Next up, the Cubs have their bye week. They have a pair of non-district games scheduled at Fireman's Park. Brenham will face Iowa Colony next Friday at 7pm, and then they will play Cy Woods next Saturday at 1pm.

HITTING

Brayden Steele 2-2 single, grand slam

Owen Finke 1-3 single

Drake Bentke 1-2 single, walk, run

Brody Tucker 1-3 single, run

PITCHING

WP Brayden Steele 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

SV Dawson Keim 1 IP, 1 H, 1R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

DISTRICT 17-5A SCORES

A&M Consolidated 3 College Station 1

Rudder 3 Lake Creek 2

Huntsville bye