The\u00a0Lakeshore Chinooks\u00a0are getting a familiar face back this summer, and he\u2019s arriving hotter
\nthan ever.
\nCalifornia shortstop Bubba Heidler is in the middle of a breakout sophomore campaign
\nat\u00a0Riverside City College, and his surge couldn\u2019t be coming at a better time for his return to
\nWisconsin. Hitting a scorching .342 with 30 RBIs through 31 games, Heidler has been a driving
\nforce behind the Tigers\u2019 23\u20139 record and their push toward the top of the ultra-competitive
\nOrange Empire Conference.
\nThis isn\u2019t just a good season – it\u2019s a statement.
\nFor Chinooks fans, Heidler\u2019s return signals something even bigger: a proven player coming back
\nmore confident, more experienced, and ready to make an impact.
\nBaseball has always been in his DNA. From starting at age four to reaching the PONY League
\nWorld Series, to a standout high school career at Paloma Valley\u2014where he played alongside
\nmany of his longtime teammates and was coached by his father\u2014Heidler has built a reputation
\nas a competitor who thrives in big moments. That same core group even made a run to the
\nstate finals his senior year, reinforcing a pattern that continues today: Heidler plays winning
\nbaseball.
\nLast summer in Mequon, he appeared in 33 games and quickly became part of the Chinooks\u2019
\ntight-knit clubhouse culture. It\u2019s that chemistry\u2014and unfinished business\u2014that\u2019s pulling him
\nback.
\n\u201cWe have to get to the playoffs,\u201d Heidler said. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to being back, meeting new
\npeople, and just having fun with the guys.\u201d
\nHe\u2019ll also be checking something off his Wisconsin bucket list.
\n\u201cI eventually have to try cheese curds,\u201d he added.
\nOff the field, Heidler\u2019s trajectory is just as impressive. The slick-fielding shortstop is headed
\nto\u00a0Long Beach State University, where he\u2019s expected to take over at shortstop next spring.
\nWhile he\u2019s majoring in communications now, his long-term goal is to serve as a firefighter – a
\nreflection of the same grit and discipline he brings to the diamond.
\nBut before that next chapter begins, there\u2019s still work to be done.<\/p>\n
With the postseason approaching, Heidler has his sights set on leading Riverside City College to
\na conference title. \u201cWinning it all would be cool,\u201d he said. \u201cBut no matter what, I\u2019ll be ready for
\nopening day.\u201d
\nAnd when that day comes, Chinooks fans should be ready too.
\nA rising star. A returning leader. A shortstop playing his best baseball at exactly the right time.
\nBubba Heidler is back – and this summer, he\u2019s one to watch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Lakeshore Chinooks\u00a0are getting a familiar face back this summer, and he\u2019s arriving hotter than ever. California shortstop Bubba Heidler is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":18808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-18804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-team-news","tag-lakeshore-chinooks"],"yoast_head":"\n