Baseball season is here. That means the Junction City Brigade summer collegiate team will begin playing at Rathert Field Friday night when they host the Kansas City Knights in a 7 p.m. ballgame.

The team has been practicing at Rathert Field the past two days, and there was a public meet and greet for the squad Thursday evening at the ballpark.  Royals Hall of Famer and former pitcher Dennis Leonard was in attendance. In addition to visiting with fans while signing baseballs and posing for pictures, he also got a look at the new playing surface at Rathert Field. “I think it’s pretty awesome.” He also added, “To have a field like this that these college kids come here and play on I think is pretty awesome. The town itself, they support them really well andI hope the kids appreciate what they get.”

Leonard noticed the Mid Plains League championship trophy won by the Brigade last season. “I see this trophy, it seems like they do pretty good here winning championships.”

You can hear the Brigade game against the Knights on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK AM.