Editor's note: This Speakout was submitted by Aaron Jorenby of Brookings. He is the Brookings Cubs general manager and South Dakota Amateure Baseball District 9A commissioner.

Summer is nearly upon us, and the Brookings Cubs are gearing up for another season of amateur baseball.

So just who are the Cubs? We are Brookings’ adult amateur baseball team, having existed as a summer staple of Brookings baseball for over eight decades. The Cubs give players who have moved beyond the American Legion program an opportunity to showcase their talents and continue playing the game they love at a highly competitive level. This isn’t a “beer league” team, league, or class of baseball, it’s as competitive as it can be every time on the field.

Brookings is coming off a fourth-place finish in the state tournament last year, and this season, with a lot of new faces, the Cubs will again be making a run at an elusive state title, something the team hasn’t claimed since 2002.

The Cubs play all home games at the recently renovated Bob Shelden Field and the 2024 schedule includes 11 home dates as part of a 24-game regular season schedule. The regular season opens May 15 at home against Lake Norden and concludes July 26, with district play held Aug. 1-4. The first weekend of the Class “A” portion of the state tournament is Aug. 9-11 and will be in Brookings, while the second and concluding weekend of state is Aug. 16-18 in Mitchell.

Brookings is a member of the Sioux Empire League, annually the strongest Class “A” league in the state, with its member teams having won the Class “A” state title every season dating back to 2004.

The Cubs will have plenty of fresh faces this summer, with several players having retired or moved on to other teams. However, while there is significant turnover from the 2023 team, the 2024 version of the Cubs looks to be as strong as ever.

Making his amateur baseball managerial debut this year will be Rhett Zelinsky, a 2024 graduate of the University of Sioux Falls who is an alum of the Friends of Brookings Baseball program. He will be overseeing a relatively young team, but that youth does not mean a lack of talent. The Cubs will have 14 players who are currently playing college baseball or who have played collegiately.

Admission to all Cubs home games is $5 for adults, while seniors or those showing a Friends of Brookings Baseball season pass can enjoy the game for $3. Children under age 18 are free. Cubs season passes will be available at the gate and are $40 each. The team will also offer beer sales during home games and the concessions will be open nightly.

If you’re looking for a great way to spend a night at the ballpark, we encourage you to visit Bob Shelden Field and take in a Cubs game and cheer on the team.

For more information on the Cubs, check out their website at brookingscubs.com, or you can find the team on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram), @brookingscubs. The Cubs are also looking for team sponsors for the 2024 season. If you or your business are interested in supporting the team, please contact me directly by phone/text, 605-691-9355, or email, ajorenby@gmail.com.

Play ball!