After sweeping the first round of the playoff series against Topeka, Junction City is back in the Cowdin Cup Championship Game series.
Coming into this season as defending league champions, the members of Junction City Brigade knew there was potential for another great season.
In an entertaining game with three lead changes, the West team defeated the East 8-4 in the ninth-annual 2022 Mid-Plains League All-Star Game Saturday at Rathert Stadium.
Junction City got the game’s first lead, trailed for half an inning, then scored five of the next six runs to defeat Kansas City Monday, 6-3, at Rathert Stadium.
By making big plays defensively, pitching well and having strong offensive success, Junction City Brigade cruised to a 12-2 victory in seven innings against Lawrence Thursday evening at Rathert Stadium.
Under first-time head coach Brandon Bachar, Junction City Brigade is having a stellar season, sitting at the top of the standings.
The Brigade defeated the Midwest A’s 6-1 Monday at Rathert Stadium.
For the fifth time this season, Junction City defeated Sabetho Tuesday at Rathert Stadium. Three of the previous four times were blowout wins by the Brigade, along with one close victory by two runs.
The Brigade played from behind for a portion of the game Saturday against the Farmers. Both Junction City and Topeka struggled in moments defensively with errors, allowing baserunners and runs, but once again the Brigade got is offense going when it needed and completed two-game weekend home series against Topeka Saturday with a 7-5 win Saturday at Rathert Stadium.
In a closely contested game, Junction City needed someone in their lineup to come through with a big hit. The Brigade squandered chances with runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth and sixth inning, but it was only a matter of time until the big hit came.
For the first time this season, the Junction City Brigade trailed in a game. Lawrence scored one run in the top of the second inning from three base hits. But it was all Junction City from that point on, as the Brigade scored 14 runs on 10 hits to defeat the Travelers 14-2 Monday at Rathert Stadium. It was another game for Junction City, called at the seventh inning for a 10-run lead rule.
In the bottom of the second inning, a Junction City Brigade batter hit a two-run double with two outs and the bases loaded. That was the beginning of the onslaught the Brigade put on Thursday night with a 18-0 win over the Sabetha Braves.
For the fifth time in the eight-year history of the Mid-Plains League, the Junction City Brigade are Cowdin Cup Champions.
After losing the series opener versus Baldwin City, the Junction City Brigade battled their way back to win the next two games and clinch a spot in the Cowdin Cup Championship Series versus the Midwest A’s.
Saturday marked a fun day out at Rathert Field as the Mid-Plains League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby were both held in Junction City.
The Junction City Brigade players came into Saturday night’s final game of their series with a sweep on their mind. After strong 10-6 and 7-2 wins over Baldwin City on Thursday and Friday, the motivation behind closing the series out had just a little more to it.
The Junction City Brigade won their second-straight series over the weekend, beating the Lawrence Travelers at home on Thursday 4-3, on the road on Friday 5-0 before returning home on Saturday and dropping the sweep-clinching game 10-5.
Saturday night was very memorable for Brigade fans after Junction City had a 4-3 walk-off in game two of a doubleheader to complete a home sweep of Topeka but, after the Brigade blanked Topeka 4-0 in game, game two did not have a strong start.
Rodney Tafoya or the “Ageless Arm” as some call him could not hold off the hot bats of the Brigade, as Junction City went on to win in dominating fashion securing a 13-6 victory Saturday night.
Five late runs from the Brigade were not enough Friday night as the Midwest A’s came out with the win 11-6.
Great defense, solid pitching, and consistent hitting throughout the lineup. The Brigade really couldn’t have asked for much better defeating the Lawrence Travelers 6-2 on Monday night at Rathert Field.
The Brigade split their weekend series versus the Sabetha Bravos (8-6, 1-2) after losing the second game in the series at Sabetha on Friday to a weather postponement. The split moves their record to 4-3 and slides them to second in the Mid-Plains League behind Baldwin City and the Midwest A’…
A late-game rally gave the Junction City Brigade a 5-3 win and a sweep over the Topeka Golden Giants on Tuesday night at Rathert Stadium.
After losing last year to Covid-19, the Junction City Brigade are back. On Wednesday, several scores of orange and black uniforms arrived at Rathert Stadium for the first time in two years to meet Brigade fans at the team’s annual meet-and-greet social at the stadium.
Fireworks illuminated Rathert Stadium for the first time in two years Friday night marking the return of Mid-Plains League baseball to Junction City as the Brigade blew past Baldwin in their home opener, 11-3.
Brothers Trae and Thane McDaniel celebrated a Cowdin Cup championship together on Saturday night, but their next steps will be quite different.
In late May, the Junction City Brigade convened for the first time at Rathert Field. A lot entered Junction City from different backgrounds and other parts of the country, but a lot of them had similar goals for the summer.
The Junction City Brigade started off on the right foot Friday night in its quest to defend the Cowdin Cup Championship that it won a year ago.
The Junction City Brigade is headed back to the Cowdin Cup Championship, but getting there was no easy task.
Clinching the No. 1 seed in the playoffs has its benefits. One is that your team receives a bye, and doesn’t have to compete in a postseason game until the semi-final round. The second is that you play the worst seed remaining in the playoffs by that point. But with those elements working in…
In the final regular season home game for the Junction City Brigade, the ball was in the hands of ace pitcher Riley Taylor Sunday night. Taylor has had plenty of success in front of the JC crowd at Rathert Field, and he had another good outing. It turned out to be one of his best games of the year.
The Junction City Brigade was on the winning side of a ten-run rule game Friday night against the Baldwin City Blues.
Monday was a scheduled off-day for Junction City Brigade catcher Dylan Thurber. But in the seventh inning, his number was called to enter the game and catch for new pitcher Drew Repp. And when he got to the plate, Thurber made his mark on the game. Thurber utilized his at-bat in the bottom o…
After splitting a two-game series with the Kansas City Monarchs this week, the Junction City Brigade returned to Rathert Field Friday night to face the Topeka Golden Giants. The Brigade needed a lift in their pitching and hitting, especially with the season winding down. The season is in the…
The Kansas City Monarchs visited Rathert Field Monday night with just nine players and an empty dugout. The KC team the Junction City Brigade saw on the field was what they were going to compete against for the game’s entirety.
Coming into a two-game series with Barn Baseball Academy, Junction City Brigade head coach Derek Francis stressed the importance of not sleeping on the Barnstormers. With the Midwest A’s coming into town for a doubleheader Saturday, it was crucial to not overlook the Barnstormers in preparat…
Wednesday night featured a birthday celebration at Rathert Field. Junction City Brigade head coach Derek Francis turned 26, and he was happy to see another year of being on the baseball diamond.
After taking the first two games of the series last week, the Junction City Brigade looked to sweep the Barn Baseball Academy Saturday night in front of its home crowd on Military Appreciation Night. Pitcher Jack Christian took the mound for the Brigade, and he delivered.
The Junction City Brigade celebrated a second straight win over Barn Baseball Academy Friday night with a fireworks display at Rathert Field.
Head coach Derek Francis and the Junction City Brigade wanted to get some innings out of starting pitcher Jayton Haggard Thursday night. Haggard delivered by giving them six of them; six strong ones. It was a good enough outing to give the Brigade a win in the first game of three against The…
With lightning in the area, play at the Junction City Brigade’s game Tuesday night was delayed for more than 45 minutes night against the Topeka Golden Giants. When the weather temporarily cleared up, JC pitcher Bryce Hestand took the mound and gave the Brigade another successful start in fr…
After the Junction City Brigade offense exploded for 20 runs in its last outing, the pitching took center stage in Friday night’s win over the visiting Liberty Monarchs. JC pitchers Riley and Jacob Taylor combined for a shutout in front of a well-engaged Junction City crowd at Rathert Field.
With the Junction City Brigade trailing 12-7 to the Baldwin City Blues heading into the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night, it was not a fun baseball game by any means, according to head coach Derek Francis.
Although players only had a couple practices together, and he still didn’t have a full roster at his disposal, Junction City Brigade head coach Derek Francis was happy to see his team in some live action against the Kansas City Knights Friday night.
After winning the Cowdin Cup last season, head coach Derek Francis heads into this year fielding a Junction City Brigade roster with a lot of new faces.
TOPEKA, Kan. — For the third time in six years the Junction City Brigade are the Mid Plains League Champions earning the right to bring home the Cowdin Cup.
The Junction City Brigade's playoff picture is clear now.
Photos of the Junction City Brigade host families for the 2018 season.
Patience is a word that is often easier said than exemplified.
LIBERTY, Mo. — The Junction City Brigade scored 12 runs in the first four innings and held Liberty to just four hits as the Brigade cruised to a 12-1 victory Tuesday.
