Play ball!

BROOKINGS — The Brookings baseball team was supposed to start their season this weekend with five games out West. However, all of those games were canceled due to upcoming inclement weather.

The weather this week and leading into this weekend is similar to how it’s been since the Bobcats started practice a few weeks ago. One day it’s sunny and 70 and a few days later there’s snow on the ground.

That doesn’t mean the ‘Cats haven’t been hard at work. They’ve been able to practice both inside and outside and head coach Carter Roach said he is encouraged with what he’s seen in the leadup to the spring season.

“I’ve been extremely impressed and happy with our first couple weeks of practice. Just our focus level and our energy, and just wanting to come to wherever we are in practice, if we’re inside or if we’re outside, just wanting to get better,” Roach said.

Roach said one of the things that he’s liked is how his roster, which is a blend of young and old players, has gelled so far.

“[We have] eight seniors and the majority of those guys played a lot of innings for us last year. We’re gonna have a mix of guys that have been around for a year or so, and then we have a lot of fresh faces too. So it’s a nice mix of, you can say old guys or upperclassmen and then underclassmen,” Roach said.

Carter Roach had one upperclassmen in mind when talking about his offense. Senior catcher and third baseman Jase Bauer.

“Jase Bauer was a Second Team All-State performer for us last year. I mean, he’s gonna anchor that middle of the lineup for our hitters. Then also defensively, just catching and playing third base and some first base,” Roach said.

When looking at his pitching staff, Roach said it’s going to be a balance of experience and up and comers, including a senior who is returning to the diamond.

“We have four senior pitchers that we are really gonna lean on the mound in Nolan Wagner, Kysin Reuer, Talon Hyde, and then a newcomer that came back out for baseball after taking a few years off in Jones Huntimer as well,” Roach said. “We have four sophomores that will all contribute and help us out a lot on the mound too.

“That being Nolan Krogman, Noah Lease, Baker Hanson and Jude Meendering. All four of those guys [don’t have a lot of varsity experience], but the stuff they’ve done in the offseason and in early bullpens and whatnot has been pretty impressive.”

Despite the cancellations of the five games this weekend, Brookings still has 26 more games scheduled for the spring season. Bauer said it’s a lot of games in a five week stretch, but he feels good about his teams’ chances to win games because of the depth they have.

“One thing that I’m really excited about that maybe we haven’t had in years past, is the amount of depth we have defensively and in the hitting lineup. I mean, we have 15 guys on the varsity roster right now and I can see the majority of those guys helping us out,” Roach said.

The Bobcats did not make the State Tournament last season. They went 11-19 and were swept by Yankton in a three-game region playoff series.
Roach said he thinks the Bobcats should always be aiming to make the State Tournament and believes the makeup of this year’s team gives Brookings a good chance to get back there.

“I think every year, I always think that Brookings is one of those towns and one of those teams that is competitive in Class A baseball. But I think absolutely, if everyone gets on the same page and we buy into what myself and my coaching staff is preaching to them, definitely, I think, a trip to the state tournament is a nice goal for this team and a realistic goal,” Roach said.

The Bobcats also missed the State Tournament in varsity baseball in 2024, but bounced back later that year and made the Legion State Tournament in the summer under Roach.

So, what’s the difference between the teams that make state and don’t? Roach said it comes down to defense and pitching.

“One huge thing that we’ve been really preaching this offseason and in this early work is pitching and defense. That’s going to be the big thing when it gets to that playoff time. We have to be able to command the strike zone and get ahead on hitters. A big thing we didn’t doa very good job of last year, especially in the playoffs, is making the routine play defensively.

Minimizing errors and attacking the strike zone will be key for us,” Roach said.

Brookings next scheduled game is on Monday and it’s a doubleheader at Brandon Valley.

The Bobcats home opener is scheduled for Tuesday and it’s a doubleheader against Sioux Falls Jefferson. The first game starts at 5 p.m.