Brewster alum Jesse Barnes is new Bears softball coach

BREWSTER – One of the last items on the Brewster School Board’s January agenda, but first of importance for this spring’s softball team was the selection of a new varsity coach to replace the retiring Rick Miller. The board hired former Brewster graduate and softball standout Jesse (Hammons) Barnes to take over the head coach position this year.

Barnes is no stranger to the Brewster softball diamond. She played for Miller during all four years of high school from 2010-2013 and served as Miller’s team manager when she was in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Her older sister, Holly, also pitched for Miller from 2008-11.

“I started playing T-ball at age three because my mom was coaching my older sister’s team,” said Barnes, “so I was at her practices every day and all of the games.”

Barnes attended Wenatchee Valley College from fall 2013 through spring 2015, then chose to return home to help her Dad operate the family orchard. She married Caleb Barnes two years ago and the couple have two daughters, Lillian, who will be two years old in April, and Delaney, three months.

When she is not coaching Barnes will help her husband operate their own 15-acre apple orchard in addition to helping with the family acreage.

“Other than that, I’m a stay-at-home Mom,” Barnes said.

Barnes has had her eye on the coaching opportunity for some time.

“Even in high school I told Rick that once he was finished coaching, I wanted to come back and be the head coach,” said Barnes. “I know I’ve got some big shoes to fill with what a great program Rick has developed, but I’m excited for this new step and can’t wait for the season to start.”

Miller announced his retirement last November after serving as Brewster’s head softball coach for 32 years.