ARHS baseball’s Cameron Bain makes anticipated return

Published 2:42 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2026

There aren’t many baseball players that Auburn Riverside Ravens head coach Brad Comstock has built a relationship with like Cameron Bain.

“He’s a gamer, man. I love that kid to death. I don’t know if there was ever a world where he was not going to let me not play him tonight,” Comstock said following Bain’s return.

“That is my guy and always will be,” Bain said of his coach.

One of four seniors on this year’s roster, on a team needing leadership, Bain has been that player this season. When his team needed him most, with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Bain came through.

“It felt so good. For coach to have the faith and trust to put me out in left and in the two hole my first game back, means the world to me,” Bain said.

But merely three weeks ago, Bain didn’t know if he would ever step on the field again. The senior hit a fly ball in his second at-bat against Kennedy Catholic back on April 15 and slipped on the first base bag in the bottom of the third.

Bain was removed from the game and in the coming days was hit with a hamstring injury. With severity unknown, question marks began swarming in Bain’s mind.

“That night I went home and I balled my eyes out. Your mind immediately goes to the worst,” Bain said. “I was just sitting there thinking my high school career is not over like this, and sure enough it’s not.”

Comstock knew the impact on the field was gone, but that impact off the field was even greater.

“Having Bain back changes the mentality and our outlook on baseball. He’s not going to let these guys give up,” Comstock said.

Bain would miss the Ravens’ next seven games and the Ravens more than missed him. Bain has a way about himself that lifts the entire program, and on a roster with 11 sophomores, his presence in the dugout is invaluable. “This team has a lot of grit. They never waiver, they compete on the first pitch to the last,” Bain said, deflecting the praise as all good leaders do.

When Auburn Riverside was swept by Kentridge, it meant there were four teams vying for the last three playoff spots. The Ravens had Kentwood scheduled for their final series of the season — one of the other three teams tied at 6-6 looking to make the postseason.

When Comstock heard that Bain was on the verge of returning, he was informed that Bain would return as a pitcher first, then his bat could be inserted into the lineup later. But once Bain cleared the benchmarks he needed, Comstock put him out in left field.

It was also senior night, a night for Bain to be celebrated. A chance he would not miss.

The Ravens were immediately tested. Kentwood jolted out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings. Leave it to Bain to get the offense started.

In just his second at-bat since the middle of April, Bain singled to left to tie the game at 3-3 in the midst of a 6-run inning for the Ravens. It came as no surprise to Comstock that Bain would be ready for the moment.

Bain continued to perform at the plate later in the game too, scoring another run in the bottom of the sixth before coming in for the save against Kentwood. Bain sat the Conquerors down in order and helped Auburn Riverside move one step closer to the postseason.

Bain and Comstock’s connection is evident, as the two shared a big hug following the win.

“He (Comstock) is the best. He’s at the field seven days a week, for hours on end. He’s so passionate and cares about us like we are all his own sons. He deserves all the respect and hard work we give to him because he gives it right back,” Bain said.

While Bain might not run like he used to, his presence on the field and in the dugout clearly meant a lot to his teammates and coaches. It wasn’t a standing ovation, but it was definitely the loudest cheer of the night in the bottom of the first when Bain stepped to the plate.

Bain helped Auburn Riverside get in the driver’s seat with a 7-4 win over Kentwood and his Ravens made the playoffs after Kentridge beat Mount Rainier on May 5.