The inclement weather in the area cancelled Cuba’s game versus Bourbon on April 27, but the Wildcats still played three games in the Salem Tournament later in the week.

Cuba fell in extra innings to Mountain Grove and were blown out by Pacific on April 30 before demolishing Salem on May 2 to win the consolation round of the tournament. Braden Gipson was named to the all-tournament team after going 6-for-11 with four runs batted in at the plate to go along with 16 strikeouts in eight innings on the mound.

The Wildcats had lost five straight games before their win against Salem, but still have a chance at finishing with more wins than losses for the first time since the 2016-17 season heading into the final stretch of regular-season games.

The Wildcats are now 9-10 on the season with five scheduled games left in the regular season before district play begins. Cuba was scheduled to play in Montgomery County on May 4 and hosted its senior day on May 5 before their matchup against Salem, weather dependent, which will be detailed in next week’s edition.

The Black and Gold will play in Plato on May 7 and will play their make-up game in Bourbon on May 8. The Wildcats will host Owensville on May 12 for their regular-season finale.

Cuba will travel to Belle on May 14 to compete in the first round of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament. The Wildcats are seeded fourth and will play fifth-seeded Bourbon at 3 p.m. with a seat in the semifinals on the line. The winner of that matchup with play number one-seeded Belle at 3 p.m. on May 18.

Wildcats fall in nine innings to Mountain Grove 

The Wildcats were able to skip school to play a pair of games against Mountain Grove and Pacific in the Salem Tournament. Cuba’s first matchup, against the Mountain Grove Panthers, was a hard-fought battle throughout.

Cuba led 4-2 after scoring one in the first, two in the third and one in the fourth inning. The Panthers responded with two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at four. After a pair of scoreless innings from both teams, the game went into extra innings. Both teams went silent in the eighth inning before the Panthers scored twice in the top of the ninth. The Wildcats were unable to answer and fell 6-4 in nine innings.

Cameron Carnal started on the mound for Cuba and hurled four innings, striking out seven Panthers while scattering four hits and four walks. Cooper Medows came on for the fifth inning and struck out two Panthers in a hitless and scoreless frame. Wildcat ace, Braden Gipson, then entered and twirled three runless innings, striking out four, allowing just one hit. Adam Doyle pitched the final inning and struck out one Panther.

The Wildcats managed just five hits throughout the nine innings. Freshman Chase Haynes had his best varsity game of the year after primarily seeing action for the junior varsity team thus far this season. Haynes played right field and laced a pair of singles, drove in two runs and stole a base.

Gipson singled, doubled, stole a base and scored a run and Carter Medows doubled and drove in a run. Cuba was baffled by Mountain Grove junior pitcher, Elijah Golden, who whiffed 12 Wildcats in six innings out of the bullpen.

Cats get crushed by Pacific

Pacific used a nine-run fourth inning and a sparkling starting pitching effort from sophomore Gavin Haddox to wallop the Wildcats 13-0 in five innings.

Cuba was held to just two hits, both singles off the bat of Gipson. Jaspar Silva pitched all four innings for the Wildcats, allowing 12 base hits in the loss. Haddox didn’t walk a batter and struck out 11 Wildcats to earn the win. Senior Colton Kossuth doubled, singled twice, drove in two runs and scored twice to lead Pacific at the plate.

Cuba snaps skid in blowout win over Salem

Buoyed by a seven-run second inning and an eight-run fifth inning, the Wildcats destroyed the Salem Tigers 18-1 in Salem.

Gipson started on the bump and pitched all five innings, striking out 12 Tigers while scattering three hits and allowing just one run. He is now 5-0 on the season with a dominant 0.67 earned run average, striking out 69 batters in 42 innings pitched.

Gipson also did damage against Salem at the plate, singling, doubling, scoring twice, stealing a base while driving in four runs. 

Wyatt McMillian drove in a season-high six runs on three base hits. Doyle singled three times, scored twice, stole a base and drove in two runs. Carter Medows doubled, scored three times and stole a base and Chase Haynes also doubled, scored twice and drove in a run.

Landon McDonald and Layten Eikermann each singled and scored twice and Cooper Medows and Aiden Moreland each singled and scored.