I think we have a good group of players this year. We are young, but we have some talented players. Obviously, I'd like to win as many games as possible and win a regional...”

Jarrod Reynolds

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity baseball team leaned on its offense during the 2023 season, when the purple and white finished with a 10-19 overall record and a 4-10 record in the Interstate 8 Conference. Although the Hubs will field a young roster at the varsity level this spring, head coach Jarrod Reynolds is optimistic about the returning and incoming talent.

“I think we have a good group of players this year,” Reynolds said. “We are young, but we have some talented players. Obviously, I'd like to win as many games as possible and win a regional, but I want us to play hard each and every game and I want to get a little bit better each day. I believe that teams earn the opportunity to win based on the quality of their practices.”

Rochelle returns for the 2024 season eyeing its first winning season in five years. The Hubs held their first practice on Monday and the team will have about three weeks to prepare for its first game of the season against Freeport on Saturday, March 16. Rochelle will hold its first home game against Genoa-Kingston on Monday, March 18 and the Hubs will tee off the Interstate 8 slate on Monday, April 8, when Rochelle begins a three-game set with Sycamore.

“I was really proud of the team last year,” Reynolds said. “I thought that the kids practiced hard and they played hard on a daily basis. They had great attitudes and they were an enjoyable group to be around. They did a great job of holding each other accountable in a positive way. We were much improved on defense last year and we did a better job of limiting strikeouts. Overall, I want us to be a team that other teams don't like to play because we play so hard.”

Senior right-hander Brock Metzger and left-hander Dylan Whaley are two returning varsity players who could see leading roles on the pitcher’s mound and around the diamond this spring. Rochelle will be counting on junior players, including returning varsity player and right-handed pitcher Brandyn Metzger, to fill out the batting order and take on starting roles in the field. The Hubs are returning to the diamond seeking their first regional title since the 2014 season. 

“I think it starts with pitching,” Reynolds said. “We are expecting Dylan to step up and throw some big innings for us. Brock is returning as a key pitcher and hitter. We will need some of our juniors to take on key roles for us. I want us to get better each and every day. I want to play clean baseball- limit free bases, hit the ball hard, run the bases aggressively and intelligently, make quality pitches, and catch the baseball. I want this year to be a good experience for the kids. I want them to be great teammates and support each other.”