Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Roosevelt Brown is getting his chance at coaching this summer with the Vicksburg High Gators’ summer baseball teams.

Brown is directing the Gators’ junior team during this week’s Warren Central Tournament and also coaches the VHS senior club which features rising seniors in Kurt Cooksey, Brian Fitzgerald, Trey Prentiss and Bowen Woodson. As juniors this spring, the group helped Vicksburg reach the Class 4A state championship series at Trustmark Park.

Brown, who hit .251 in four years at the major league level including a full season in 2002, says he likes giving back to the game.

“It’s been good for me,” Brown said. “As for the kids, I think there is a learning curve. I’m trying to teach them a variety of things. The biggest thing is respecting the game and to play hard.”

The VHS junior team is made up of 15 players who will be either freshmen or sophomores next season. The senior team is made up of juniors and seniors with some of the JV mixed in.

“Our senior team is going to West Monroe (today) and we’ll take most of these kids (the JV) along with the four seniors in Cooksey, Fitzgerald, Trey and Bowen,” Brown said.

“The junior group has done really well. We’ve lost only twice in 14 games, once to the Jackson 96ers and once to Warren Central’s senior team. We’ve played nothing but older teams. I really believe they would dominate teams in their own age division,” Brown said.

Two players who have stood out have been infielder Keaton Jones and pitcher Cameron Cooksey. Jones started Game 2 of the 4A state finals against East Central.

“Cooksey has been impressive on the mound and Keaton has played well. What I like about our younger guys is their receptiveness. They’ve asked a lot of questions. They want to play the game right,” Brown said.

The key loss off the Gators’ 28-10 team is Vicksburg Post Player of the Year and All-State pitcher Stanton Price. Price went 11-2 and did the majority of the mound work during Vicksburg’s run to the state finals, winning six playoff games.

“We’ve been working with Jacob Thomas and we’ve got Bowen as our closer,” Brown said. “The biggest thing I’ve been wanting to teach our pitchers is to get command of their fastball. If they know how to use their fastball they can excel as a high school pitcher.”

While most of the Gators’ competition will call it a summer before the July 4 holiday, Brown said his group will work toward playing in the Governor’s Cup in late July.

“We would like to put in a team in the 16-and-under tournament. They want to play,” Brown said.