In 2021 the MLB worked with Nike to debut the first City Connect jersey.
City Connects are a unique way of incorporating many different components that demonstrate the city’s characteristics like their history, community and culture.
Ever since that day in 2021, most of the teams in the MLB have had a different City Connect jersey every season.
The GRC Boys Baseball team is trying something different this season with their new City Connect jerseys.
There are many different elements that come to mind when you think about Winchester, but one really pops out — Ale-8 One.
The new jerseys are red with highlights of yellow and black, which represent GRC’s logo. It also includes “Winchester” on the chest and has an Ale-8 One patch on the left sleeve.
Ale-8 has come together with the baseball team to create a one-0f a-kind jersey.
“Our program and school is fortunate to have the support that the Winchester community gives us so we wanted to show appreciation by having the Ale-8 One logo on the jersey and highlight the city with its name across the chest,” said JV Head Coach Will Padgett. “When the idea of having the City Connect jersey came up, we wanted something that had its own identity and was unique when compared to any of the other jerseys”.
Varsity Head Coach Eddie Brooks added, “I think it brings some excitement to our guys. They absolutely love the look of the jerseys.”
The players agree that the new jerseys look really good.
“I love the design of our jerseys,” said senior Maddox Campbell, “Coach Brooks designed them really nicely and I think the yellow pops out on them and definitely stands out from the rest of our jerseys.”
When the team travels to play an away game, they get to show off their new jerseys that symbolizes their city.
“When we wear these jerseys on our road games, we can represent the city of Winchester and what it offers,” Coach Padgett said. “Ultimately, we wanted to show that we are proud to be a part of the Winchester community.”
From the players to the coaches, they are all proud to represent their community and city when they are playing and coaching the sport that they love.
“It means a lot to me and the team, especially because Coach Brooks always has us out in the community helping out,” Campbell said. “It’s an amazing feeling to put the jerseys on knowing we are supporting our city every day.”
Coach Padgett added, “There’s a privilege aspect to being allowed to have this jersey, so it’s an honor that our program has this jersey and we’re proud to wear the jersey.”
Since the City Connect trend is just now gaining its popularity, there aren’t very many high schools around the state or maybe the country that have joined the trend.
Overall the baseball team went all out for their community and absolutely succeeded.
The jerseys have made the team stronger all together and have done a great job at highlighting Winchester and Clark County.
“This is a very prideful city,” Coach Brook said, “and I want our players to be proud of where they play.”
