By: Ryan Duey
Clay Center Community High School Baseball Coach Andy Bent, and four senior players were guests at the Clay Center Lions Club weekly meeting on March 25th. The CCCHS Baseball team started their season on Tuesday against Riley County.
Bent said they have a small team this year, with 14 boys making up the rotation. He said that lower numbers are common around the area and league this year. Bent said as coaches they are tough on the boys, as they are trying to prepare them for not just baseball, but life after high school.
“We’re tough on them, but we want the best out of them. We try to prepare them for stuff after baseball too.”
“One thing is don’t be late to practice. We’ve had to run this one young man a couple of times because he was late. I asked him what happens if you’re late to your job. Your boss is not going to make you run poles, he’s going to fire you probably. So, it’s a good lesson and he hasn’t been late since, and I don’t think he will again.”
“We also look at their grades, too.”
The seniors’ goals for the season are to win all their games, take it one game at a time, get better as the season goes on, and make it to the State Tournament in Salina. Bent said he will miss this group of seniors.
“This group of seniors is going to be tough to watch go. I’ve coached two of them for a long time, when they were like 8, 9, or 10.”
“Not that I’m closer with these guys, but these guys, I’ve been around a lot more than some other senior groups, so this one’s going to be tough.”
“We are going to make sure to finish it off the right way. We’re going to start tonight by sweeping Riley.”
Two of the senior players will be playing baseball in college next year. While they have a smaller team, Bent and the seniors believe they have a chance of competing and winning every game this season as they make their way to State.
