CUB BASEBALL FINISHES DISTRICT PLAY WITH AN 8-1 WIN OVER RUDDER

Doug Brown April 24, 2026

The Brenham Cub Baseball Team got back on the winning track last (Thursday) night with an 8-1 victory over the Rudder Rangers in Caldwell.

The Cubs got it going on offense early with three runs in the first inning. Dalton Hart drew a leadoff walk, and Owen Finke followed that up with a two-run homer.

The next batter, Drake Bentke ripped a double, and he later came around to score on an RBI single by Braydon Steele. That gave Brenham an early 3-0 lead.

Bentke came up again in the top of the third, and smashed a solo homer, which increased the Cub advantage to 4-0.

Brenham kept the offense going in the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles by Hart and Finke, Bentke came through again, this time with a two-run triple. He then scored off of an RBI double by Luke Hardy to put the Cubs up 7-0.

Brenham added one more run in the fifth inning. Brody Tucker led it off with a double. Cooper Hodde came in as a courtesy runner, and he scored on an RBI single from Caleb Maurer that put the Cubs ahead in the game 8-0.

Rudder got their only run in bottom of the sixth when Braylen Pierce scored on an RBI triple by Parker Jones.

On the mound, Brayden Steele went five shutout innings to get the win. Dawson Keim and Sterling Scheffer each worked an inning of relief.

With the win, Brenham improves to 21-10-1 on the season, and they finish outright District Champions for the first time since the 2015 season, with an 11-1 record.

The Cubs now get ready for the Bi-District Round of the Playoffs. Head Coach Chase Wheaton told KWHI that their first opponent will either be Dayton or Kingwood Park. They will know more after tonight's (Friday's) games.

HITTING

Drake Bentke 3-4 double, triple, homer, three runs, three RBIs

Owen Finke 2-4 single, homer, HBP, two runs, two RBIs

Dalton Hart 2-4 two singles, walk, two runs

Brody Tucker 2-2 single, double, walk

Luke Hardy 1-4 double, RBI

Braydon Steele 1-3 single, RBI

Caleb Maurer 1-4 single, RBI

PITCHING

WP Braydon Steele 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

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

Sterling Scheffer 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K