Minnesota Blizzard Baseball

Brent Peters has been with the Blizzard Program for 12 years and it all started when he found himself wanting to be more involved in his stepson’s development. Life lessons through baseball triggered his development not only as a player, but also as a kid growing up.  It’s a big reason why he is still part of the program as the longest-tenured coach.

And a chance to coach meant an opportunity to impact more than just his stepson’s life, but a multitude of young men. He finds great joy in seeing his players grow up and catch on to certain things through baseball.

“There is no greater reward for a coach than seeing the light-bulb go on,” Peters said.  “Whether it is in the physical tools, mental conditioning, or simply how a baseball player matures, it is the single most driving force I have as a coach.”

When talking with Brent, or ‘Trig’ as most players in the Blizzard program know him, a person gets the sense of what baseball means to him.  He studies it, he’s passionate about, humble and passes on every little lesson to his players.

“I was a lousy pitcher and I used to have a short temper,” Trig said.  “But I learned something at age nine – humility.  In our last game of the year, a team beat us after we had beaten them earlier in the regular season 28-2 and 26-4.”

Trig never forgot those small moments that made a big impact on his life and has cemented himself in the Blizzard program passing those same lessons on to his 12u team.

“There is not a better coach for our younger teams,” program director Adam Barta said.  “It is so important that our youngest players who are in our program for the first time know what it is all about.  Not just the baseball side but our Blizzard Big Ten.  It’s the foundation of our program and Brent is a big part of that foundation.  I don’t know what I would do without him.”

When Brent talks about his 12u team, he says they are an extremely cohesive unit and they play like a real team out there. Brent loves seeing the game through his players eyes and he says it helps him better understand how to coach the game.

This past weekend, his 12u team played in their last tournament in the Spring Championships in Phoenix, AZ.  The took the #2 seed in the tournament after going 2-0-1 including throwing a no-hitter in game one.  They lost their quarter-final game 6-4.

“Take the vision you have in your mind, go out on that field and become that vision,” Peters said.  “Whatever it is, make it yours. Own it, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.”

That's a good lesson earned.

*Note - The team they beat went on to win the tournament.