After hosting a preseason jamboree Aug. 25 with scrimmages against St. Clair and Newburg, Cuba High School’s softball team officially opened its season with a road match up Aug. 27 in Rolla.

The Lady Wildcats’ positive energy heading into the season was immediately spoiled by the Rolla Lady Bulldogs, who poured on 17 runs in the first inning and cruised to a 25-3 victory in three innings.

Cuba looked like they would score in the first inning after the Lady Wildcats’ first two hitters, sophomore shortstop Eliza Ledbetter and junior right fielder Lily Becherer, walked to start the game. But, Rolla starting pitcher Reese Hohe bore down and got the next three Lady Cats out.

The Lady Wildcats scored all three runs in the top of the third inning and received runs batted in on base hits from freshman second baseman Addison Lowes and junior catcher Amelie Villemure.

Sophomore center fielder Jaci Sanders singled and scored and junior designated hitter Brookelynn Tiner singled as Cuba finished with four base hits in their season opener. Becherer and Villemure were the only Lady Wildcats to reach base twice and Becherer added a stolen base to her productive afternoon.

Juniors Makenlei Shafferrkoetter and Keira Long combined to pitch the first inning and freshman Harper Maxwell hurled the second inning in her debut with the Lady Cats.

Cuba’s junior varsity team fell 11-1 in the second match up of the day between the Lady Wildcats and the Lady Bulldogs. Junior Kaylee Whitworth singled, walked and scored a run and Sanders singled, doubled and drove in Whitworth for Cuba’s lone run.

The young Lady Wildcats have just one senior on the roster, Teryn Vass, under second year head coach James Steiner. She will gain valuable varsity experience on the fly throughout the season.

Cuba played its first home game against Pacific on Sept. 1, which will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Lady Cats will then play home games versus Lebanon on Sept. 2 and Richland Sept. 8, will take on Sullivan in a road game Sept. 10 before returning home to the Cuba Softball Tournament Sept. 12 at Steve Schuette Field.

Cuba’s busy schedule will continue with back to back games, starting with a road match up in St. James Sept. 14 and a home game against Jefferson (Festus) on Sept. 15. All games are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.