With the Mid-Missouri connection so strong with the Jefferson City Renegades, there are bound to be memories to reminisce from the high school days - or even prior to that.
Renegades pitcher Adam Grunden is familiar with a number of the players he now calls teammates, being on opposite sides of rivalries in high school.
Grunden was a junior when Rock Bridge defeated his Jefferson City Jays in the 2014 district championship game. The Bruins went on to win the Class 5 state title.
The teams met again for a district championship the next season, with Rock Bridge once again coming out on top. The Bruins were a quarterfinal team that season.
Two players who were on those Rock Bridge teams - Cole Evans and Avery Jennings - are now teammates of Grunden with the Renegades. Talk about awkward. Or maybe not.
"We want to play for the next person. That's kind of our motto," Grunden said. "What happened in high school was back in the day, so we're all working towards bigger and better things."
But there are friendly reminders from time to time about what happened in the past.
"There's definitely been some high school smack talk here and there, but it doesn't last too long," Grunden said.
Grunden is focused on the future. He has played at Longview Community College the past two years and will move on to William Woods this fall.
It gets him closer to home after being in Lee's Summit for two years and playing summer ball for the Junction City Brigade in Kansas.
The Renegades created the chance to make his way back to Mid-Missouri a few months early.
"I was really excited," Grunden said. "Coach (Mike) DeMilia texted me right off the bat. I was definitely all about it. I love being back home."
He made his debut for the Renegades on May 31 in Sedalia, closing out a 5-4 win against the defending MINK League champion Bombers.
"We were hyped up and excited to get that first win under our belt," Grunden said. "It's definitely a little bit more extra adrenaline going through your veins when your playing those guys."
Grunden's home debut came Monday night against the Nevada Griffons, throwing six scoreless innings in his third appearance of the season. A nice showing for his first time back at Vivion Field since his days with the Jays.
"It's awesome being back here," Grunden said. " I've definitely enjoyed my time in Jefferson City and pitching in front of the hometown fans."
It was certainly a comfortable environment. He had Longview teammate in Jady Reese behind the plate. Jake Litteken, who also played at Longview, started at third base. Plus, it was his first start of the season.
"I think he's more comfortable starting," DeMilia said. " I think he was a little out of his element (during his last outing)."
Grunden allowed four runs, including the winning one, in 21/3 innings in a 17-16 loss June 7 at Joplin. He came back the next week and showed what he could bring to the team this summer by only allowing two hits in six innings.
He used Monday night's outing to continue his progress on his fastball and changeup.
"My fastball, my velocity," he said about what he wants to improve on this summer. "Working out a little bit, trying to get a little bit bigger. The changeup was good (Monday night). That's one of my big pitches I'm working on this summer. Trying to get that located and get movement on it."
Grunden said he can consistently hit 85 or 86 mph, but can reach 88 or 89 when needed.
"I can ramp it up whenever I've got a guy 0-2, 1-2," he said. "Just trying to get over that hump."
In addition, the 6-foot-3 right-hander is making tweaks to his slider.
"Throwing my slider a little bit harder instead of trying to locate because I've got my curveball in my back pocket a little bit," he said. "It's more of a cutter action than a regular slider, but I can kind of slow it down. I've mixed up my motion where they can't get comfortable and time my stuff up. It's definitely helped me out."
And it could help the team get to where it wants to be by the end of July - the MINK League championship game.
"We're here to play," Grunden said. "We're here to win it."