Cubs Preparing for State Title Run

THE CODY CUBS FRESH OFF A SECOND PLACE FINISH AT THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT NOW SET THEIR SIGHTS ON A STATE TITLE CROWN. ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE STATE, THE CUBS HAVE WON FOUR OF THE LAST SIX STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, THEY DID NOT COMPETE AT THE STATE A TOURNEY IN 2019, ARE BACK ON THE DIAMOND HONING IN THEIR SKILLS ONE FINAL TIME BEFORE OPENING PLAY SATURDAY VS. TORRINGTON. HEAD COACH BART GRENZ TALKS ABOUT THE FOCUS AT PRACTICE THIS WEEK.

“YEAH, WE’RE PRETTY MUCH WORKING ON EVERYTHING. WE’LL THROW A FEW BULLPENS HERE THIS WEEK, TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE READY TO GO. WE’LL OBVIOUSLY HIT EVERYDAY, FIELD IT EVERYDAY. WORK ON A COUPLE OF OUR PLAYS THAT MAYBE WE BOTCHED THIS LAST WEEKEND TO SEE WHERE THEY’RE AT AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER AT THOSE. HOPEFULLY BE READY FOR THAT GAME SATURDAY.”

WITH BOTH THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS BEING CANCELED THIS WILL BE THE FINAL TOURNEY OF THE SEASON FOR LEGION BASEBALL AND COACH TALKS ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE AND EXCITEMENT THAT’S IN THE AIR.

“I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE EXCITING. I THINK THERE’LL BE A LOT OF ENERGY OVER THERE AT THAT TOURNAMENT. I THINK TEAMS ARE GOING TO BE READY TO GO. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WIN IT. A LOT OF TEAMS ARE GONNA BE GOING OUT THERE AND COMPETING HARD. I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY A FULL 7-INNINGS EVERY GAME. GET OUT THERE AND DO WHAT WE DO AND HOPEFULLY THINGS GO IN OUR FAVOR BY THE END OF THE GAME.”

COACH GRENZ GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN USE THE DISTRICT TOURNEY LOSS TO POWELL TO PROPEL THEM FORWARD.

“YOU HOPE THE KIDS USE THAT AS MOTIVATION, THAT THEY COME OUT AND SAY ‘HEY, LETS MAKE THIS A GOOD WEEK OF PRACTICE.’ WE’RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE FOUR PRACTICES THIS WEEK AND THEN GET RIGHT BACK TO PLAYING. SO YOU HOPE THEY HAVE THE MINDSET COMING IN OF ‘HEY, LETS GET A LITTLE BETTER THIS WEEK SO WE’RE READY TO GO.’”

AS HAS BEEN NOTED ALL YEAR LONG, THIS CUBS TEAM IS A VETERAN LADEN GROUP THAT IS NOT NEW TO THIS SITUATION. COACH GRENZ ON AN ADVANTAGE CODY TAKES INTO THE TOURNEY WITH THEM.

“HOPEFULLY A HUNGER. HOPEFULLY A HUNGER OF WE WANT TO DO IT AGAIN. SINCE SOME OF THEM HAVE PLAYED ON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS THEY KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE AT THE END. SO HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE THAT HUNGER TO GET BACK TO THAT FEELING, TO PLAY IN THE LAST GAME OF THE YEAR AND TO RECORD THE LAST OUT.”

AND FINALLY IF THE CUBS ARE GOING TO COME HOME WITH A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY IT ALL STARTS WITH THEIR TEAM COMPOSURE.

“TO STAY EVEN KEEL. THERE’S GOING TO BE HIGHS AND LOWS IN EVERY GAME. THERE’S GOING TO BE BIG MOMENTS DURING THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND YOU KNOW LOW MOMENTS. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN HANDLE THOSE PRETTY EVEN KEEL. GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, STAY IN IN A GOOD MENTAL SET, MINDSET AND KEEP WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT. AND WORK FOR THE BETTER.”

THE CODY CUBS BEGIN PLAY AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT SATURDAY AT 10 IN THE MORNING VS. TORRINGTON. THIS IS AN EIGHT TEAM DOUBLE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT AND KODI HAS THE LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY OF CODY CUBS BASEBALL ALL WEEKEND LONG.