Cuba High School’s varsity softball team dropped three games in as many days from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 against Hermann, Vienna and Hancock. The Lady Wildcats are now 0-15 with three games left in the regular season. All games are detailed below.

Cuba hosted Owensville for its last home game Oct. 5 where the Lady Cats’ lone senior, Teryn Vass was honored. That will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Black and Gold will play in St. Clair Oct. 8 and in Newburg Oct. 12 for its last two regular season games. Cuba will then compete in the Class 3 District 2 Tournament in Sullivan. The Tournament is scheduled to begin Oct. 14 and Cuba’s seeding and game times will be updated in next week’s edition when the bracket becomes available. 

Sept. 28 vs. Hermann

The Hermann Lady Bearcats made quick work of the Lady Wildcats at Steve Schuette Field. Hermann plated two runs in the first inning before exploding for 19 runs in the second and seven runs in the third inning, routing Cuba 28-1 in three innings.

Lily Becherer singled for the Lady Wildcats’ only base hit, scored their lone run and picked up two stolen bases as Cuba’s most productive player. Harper Maxwell, Makenlei Shafferkoetter and Eliza Ledbetter each pitched one inning and Ledbetter notched the Lady Cats’ lone strikeout from the pitcher’s circle.

Hermann senior pitcher Delilah Nobel struck out six Lady Wildcats in three innings on the mound and reached base five times, scored four times and drove in two runs at the plate.

Sept. 29 vs. Vienna

The Vienna Lady Eagles came into town as Cuba hosted Pink Out Day to Strike Out Cancer, which raised funds through a silent auction and a bake sale for local resident Larry Bridgeman’s battle with leukemia.

Unfortunately for Cuba, the festivities didn’t continue on the field. Vienna scored five runs in the first, seven runs in the second and four runs in the fourth inning en route to a 16-0 victory over the Lady Wildcats. Lady Eagles head coach Jess Colliver showed good sportsmanship to not run up the score, instructing her team to leave base early and get out during the second inning, in order to prevent the inning from spiraling even further. Cuba dropped to 0-14 and Vienna improved to 12-7

Cuba senior Teryn Vass singled for the Lady Wildcats’ lone base hit of the game. Savannah Vass walked and stole a base and Ledbetter and Emma Kitchen each drew walks as Cuba’s only other base runners. 

Ledbetter pitched the first inning and Shafferkoetter came on in relief, hurling the final two innings. Vienna sophomore catcher Alexis Curtis led the Lady Eagles with two hits, three runs scored and one run batted in.

Sept. 30 vs. Hancock

The Lady Wildcats traveled to St. Louis to take on the Hancock Lady Tigers. Cuba got off the bus ready to score, plating five runs in the top of the first. The Black and Gold led 5-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning, but that lead quickly evaporated. Hancock exploded for 11 runs in the second and 12 runs in the third to pull away with a 24-8 victory over Cuba in three innings. Cuba fell to 0-15 and Hancock moved to 9-3 with the win.

Sophomore catcher Brooklynne Tiner led the Lady Cats with two hits, two runs batted in and a stolen base. Ledbetter and Becherer each singled and scored twice, Maxwell singled, scored and drove in a run and Teryn Vass singled and scored to cap Cuba’s offensive output.

Ledbetter struck out two Lady Tigers in 1 1/2 innings on the mound. Maxwell whiffed one in 2/3 of an inning and Shafferkoetter got the final Hancock hitter out.

Hancock was led by senior Precious Silver who tripled, singled, scored and drove in a game-high five runs.

The Lady Cats and Lady Tigers’ junior varsity teams then squared off, where a close three-inning matchup ensued. Hancock led 5-2 heading into the third inning, but the Lady Wildcats responded with three runs to tie the game. However, the Lady Tigers added a run in the bottom of the third to earn a 6-5 walk off win.

Sophomore Kelsey McGinnis had two hits and drove in a run to pace Cuba. Addison Lowes and Riley Portell each singled, stole a base and scored. Keira Long, Pheobe McMullan and Tiner each stole two bases. Long and Ledbetter combined to pitch 2 2/3 innings before Hancock ended the game.