Although it was a slow start to the week for Cuba High School’s baseball team with losses to Montgomery County and Salem on May 4 and 6, the Wildcats finished strong with a pair of wins on May 7 and 8 over Plato and Bourbon, respectively. 

The Wildcats are now 11-12 on the season and hosted Owensville on May 12 for their last regular season game of the year, which will be detailed in next week’s edition. Cuba’s 11 wins are the most wins for the team during the seven-year tenure of head coach Randy Bouse and the most for the program since the 2016-17 season when the Wildcats won 15 games.

In other positive Wildcat news, Braden Gipson, Elijah Jesse, Cooper Medows, Carter Medows, Aiden Moreland and Wyatt Littrell were all recognized for their efforts inside the classroom and named to the Academic All-State team.  

Cuba will play a rematch with Bourbon at 3 p.m. on May 14 at Belle City Park in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament. The Wildcats are the fourth seed, Bourbon is the fifth seed and the winner will play number-one seeded Belle at 3 p.m. on May 18 in the semifinals.

Wildcats’ valiant comeback attempt against Montgomery County falls just short 

In a matchup between Wildcats, the Montgomery County Wildcats looked like they were going to end the Cuba Cat’s day early. Montgomery County plated seven runs in the first inning and led 10-0 heading into the fifth inning. If Cuba didn’t score, the game would’ve ended due to the run rule.

But the resilient bunch in black and gold scored four runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to get back in the game. However, Cuba’s comeback attempt wouldn’t be enough to pull out a victory as Montgomery County added one run in the fifth and two in the sixth inning to come away with a 13-9 win.

The local Wildcats were plagued by seven errors in the field that led to four unearned runs, which was the difference in the final score.

Layten Eikermann started on the mound and lasted just one inning after laboring in the first. Logan McDonald came on in relief, scattering three hits and two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings while striking out two. Elijah Jesse pitched the final 1 1/3 inning, striking out one, without giving up an earned run.

Wyatt McMillian led Cuba’s hitters with three singles and three runs batted in. Braden Gipson singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored three times. Freshman Chase Haynes continued his ascension at the varsity level by singling, doubling and driving in three runs.

Cameron Carnal singled, stole a base and scored, Adam Doyle singled and scored twice and Carter Medows walked three times, singled and scored twice to round out Cuba’s offensive production.

Chase Queathem blasted a grand slam in the first inning and Noah Beck singled twice and scored three times to lead Montgomery County. Cuba’s junior varsity team lost 2-1 in the second game of the day between the Wildcats.

Salem spoils senior night for Cuba

After the inclement weather in the area postponed the game a day, Cuba hosted the Salem Tigers for senior night and a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. Wildcat seniors Cameron Carnal, Adam Doyle, Carson Layman, Wyatt McMillian, Gavin Robinson and Jaspar Silva were honored before the game along with their families.

The game itself was a low-scoring affair, as the chilly breeze in the air seemed to make both teams uncomfortable at the plate.

Salem scored one unearned run in the top of the first and Cuba responded with one in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Hanes that drove in Gipson. The score remained tied at one until the Tigers added one run in the top of the fourth. Cuba’s starting pitcher, Carnal loaded the bases, but was able to limit any further damage after striking out a pair of hitters. The Wildcats tied the game up at two in the bottom of the fifth inning when Carter Medows raced home to score on a wild pitch.

However, Salem would add one run in the sixth and seventh innings and Tiger’s relief pitcher Brent Halinar would stifle Cuba’s hitters in the final two frames as Salem walked away with a 4-2 victory to spoil the Wildcat’s senior night.

Carnal went four innings, striking out seven, allowing just one earned run. Cooper Medows took the mound in the fifth inning and hurled 1 2/3 innings before Elijah Jesse came on for the final 1 1/3 inning. 

Gipson collected two of Cuba’s five base hits on the day and added a stolen base and run scored to his productive afternoon. Doyle, Hanes and McDonald each singled, McMillian walked twice and Carter Medows stole a base. 

Salem junior Ryan Halinar started on the mound, allowing four hits and one earned run over five innings, striking out five before his brother, Brent took over. Kahne Barred led the Tigers with two base hits out of the number nine position in the batting order.  

Wildcats hold on for road victory over Plato

Cuba traveled to Plato the following afternoon to take on the Eagles and looked like they were going to pull away early. The Wildcats plated two runs in the first inning and three in the second to go up 5-0. But the Eagles responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the second to tie the game.

The pitchers from both teams then settled in for the next few innings and the score remained tied at five until the top of the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth, Cuba scored four runs on a two-run single from Doyle, a run-scoring single from Moreland and an RBI groundout from Eikermann to take a 9-5 lead. 

Plato added two runs in their last licks in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as Cuba held on for a 9-7 victory.

The Wildcats finished with 10 base hits from eight different players. Doyle roped a pair of singles, drove in two runs and scored once and Cooper Medows singled twice, stole a base and scored to tie for a team-high two hits. McDonald doubled for Cuba’s lone extra-base hit of the game and scored once.

Gipson singled, drove in a run, scored and stole a base and Carter Medows walked, singled, scored twice, drove in a run and stole a base to form a dynamic duo at the top of Cuba’s batting order.

Eikermann singled and tied Doyle for a team-high two runs batted, Hanes walked and singled and Moreland walked, singled, scored and drove in one run.

Silva started on the mound and was pulled after 1 2/3 innings when Plato rallied for five runs in the second.

Jesse came on in relief for the second time in as many days and hurled 3 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings, striking out four Eagles to stabilize Cuba’s pitching staff. Gipson then threw 1 1 1/3 innings before Moreland came on and struck out the final two Plato hitters to earn the save.

Cuba’s junior varsity team won 4-0 following the varsity game.

Gipson’s dominance, top of batting order’s production propels Cuba to win over Bourbon

Bourbon honored its senior golfers and baseball players, Ian Mueller and Chase Perschbacher, before the game, and Cuba’s pitching ace, Gipson made sure that would be the last time Warhawk’s fans would cheer.

The junior right hander threw a complete-game shutout, scattering just three hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out 12.

Cuba’s bats gave him a 3-0 cushion in the first inning and the Wildcats never looked back. The black and gold scored in every inning besides the second and cruised to an 11-0 victory before the skies opened up and dumped rain on the area.

The Wildcats received multi-hit games from five players and saw three-hit performances from the top three hitters in the lineup.

Gipson roped three singles and scored once, Carter Medows hit three singles, stole a base and scored four times, Wyatt McMillian crushed two doubles, a single, drove in a run and scored three times and Logan McDonald singled twice, scored and drove in a run.  

While he may be one of the smallest of Wildcats in physical stature, Cuba’s cleanup hitter Adam Doyle provided the most pop and production, driving in a game-high five runs on a single, a double and a sacrifice fly.

Luke Whittaker walked and singled, Eikermann singled and drove in a runner and pinch runner Jesse Shireman stole a base and scored to round out Cuba’s offensive production.

The Wildcat’s junior varsity team competed in the Owensville JV tournament on May 9 and lost 3-2 to Sullivan and 9-3 to Pacific.