Brenham Banner-Press Podcasts

The 2025-26 season of the Banner-Press Sports Corner podcast begins as Brenham volleyball is only days away from opening its season. Seniors Antyiahna Lang and Kori Levi join the show to discuss the Cubettes and their improvement heading into the season as they look to return to the playoffs this year.

Blinn pitcher Brok Eddy and Hayden Morris join the Sports Corner ahead of Blinn baseball’s Region XIV Super Regional series against San Jacinto College with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series. They discuss working with Blinn’s coaching staff and the confidence everyone has in each other as well as what they can learn from regular season meetings against the Ravens to apply in the Super Regional.

Burton Lady Panther softball coach Zack Zorn joins the Banner-Press Sports Corner ahead of Burton’s Conference 2A Division II regional semifinal series against Weimar. He discusses his team’s performance through its bi-district and area round series as well as the team’s prospects of making a run to Austin and the state championships.

Burton Lady Panther track and field regional qualifier Kinsey Lunbeck joins the Banner-Press Sports Corner ahead of this weekend’s UIL Conference 2A Region IV meet at Texas A&M-Kingsville. She discusses the improvement of her own speed and the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams she will run with at regionals as well as the track and Lady Panther athletic programs as a whole. Lunbeck also discusses the improvement it will take at regionals to qualify for the 2A state meet in Austin.

Brenham girls track and field hurdlers Adrianna Phillips and Laynee Appling join the Sports Corner this week with the road to the UIL state meet well underway. Phillips, a senior, qualified for the area meet in the 300 meter hurdles event and will compete Wednesday at Splendora HS. While Appling did not qualify for area herself, she ran well in three events during Thursday’s District 17-5A running finals and represents the future of the Cubette track and field program as a freshman.

Brenham junior designated hitter Drake Bentke joins the Sports Corner to discuss the Brenham Cubs and their quest to return to the playoffs. He discusses the resolve behind Brenham’s Friday night road wins the last two weeks as well as the mentality needed in a tough District 17-5A alignment. Bentke also discusses how the Cubs forge connections with Brenham’s youth ahead of Youth Night at Fireman’s Park on Friday.

Blinn softball freshman third baseman Annie Beckendorf joins the Sports Corner to discuss the Buccaneers and her continuing ties to the Brenham community. She discusses how herself along with other former Brenham Cubettes Halle Scheel and Nevaeh Holmes have made the adjustment to college together along with the jump from high school and travel softball to junior college softball in Region XIV.

Blinn sophomore Caden Ferraro joins the Sports Corner to discuss the Blinn Buccaneer baseball team, which is on a seven-game winning streak after defeating Wharton County Tuesday evening. He discusses how he and his team have been able to perform well in a 21-6 campaign as defending national champions and how the team has come together outside the baseball field. Ferraro also discusses how much the team watches college and professional baseball and how players coming in from Division I schools bring additional insight to the team.

Brenham community and public relations manager Melinda Gordon joins Banner-Press managing editor Keith E. Domke to discuss all of the responsibilities under her role, including the public relations process behind getting the news of Brenham police chief Lloyd Powell’s recent retirement out through releases and assisting in follow-up calls. Gordon also details the process other situations may require her to utilize.

Brenham softball coach Katie Roberts joins the Sports Corner after the Cubettes finished non-district play earlier this week. She discusses the team’s 5-3 win over Giddings as well as her team overall, which includes two seniors at the top of the lineup and a young freshman group complementing them. Roberts and sports writer Nicholas Hodell look at some advanced stats and also discuss the theme nights coming up at Alumni Field this district season, including a celebration of the 2005 4A state championship team on March 28.