On the 20th year anniversary of Klein winning the state championship, the Bearkats are ready to compete once again. Baseball season is underway, which means high hopes and expectations for the annual playoff contender Bearkats. The Bearkats have made the playoffs eight years in a row, and head coach Barry Smith made it cut and dry what he expects again this year.
“We expect to make the playoffs this year,” Smith said.
The players are just as excited as well. The team is off to a 9-5 start and future Longhorn Greyson Lembcke exudes confidence talking about his team’s future this season.
“With the talent we got and the guys coming up I really feel like we can make a run at the state championship, I have no doubt,” senior Lembcke said.
Lembcke, who models his game after his favorite player, Astros star Alex Bregman, is playing his final season with the Bearkats after three years as the quarterback for the football team and three years on the baseball team, and dedicates his time to helping his team in every way he can.
“As a player, one of my strengths is defense; that’s what I take a lot of pride in.” Lembcke said. “I’ve been working a lot to increase my game at the plate. It’s been a lot of work this summer, and I’m excited about that.”
The Bearkats, currently, are at the beginning of the season, and have yet to get into the meat of their schedule district play.
“I’m definitely most excited to go into districts soon,” senior Nathan Wellman said.
The Bearkats look to face difficult competition with Klein Forest, Klein Collins and Memorial all having winning records, but that’s part of the excitement.
“To have the ability to play against good teams and have a chance to go to a state championship is always exciting. Getting to find out, what the future holds for us.,” Smith said.