Another chapter in the turnaround season for the Cuba High School baseball team was written on May 14 when the Wildcats defeated the Bourbon Warhawks decisively in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament at Belle City Park.

The win was Cuba’s first victory in districts since the 2016-17 season.

Cuba advanced to a semifinal matchup versus number one-seeded Belle on May 18, where the winning team took on the winner of the Fatima and Dixon game on May 19. All of Cuba’s remaining district games will be detailed in next week’s edition. Heading into the district semifinals, the Wildcats are 12-13 on the season after falling to Owensville in its final regular season game of the year. 

Four Wildcats named All-GVC

Cuba seniors Adam Doyle and Wyatt McMillian, junior Braden Gipson and freshman Carter Medows were named to the All-Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) team by the coaches in the conference.

Doyle is hitting .355 with a team-high 30 runs batted in and McMillian leads the Wildcats with six doubles and two home runs while maintaining a stellar .415 batting average.

Gipson leads Cuba with a .476 batting average, 40 base hits, 16 stolen bases while also being the Wildcat’s top pitcher. Gipson currently posts a masterful 0.77 earned runs average with a 7-0 record while striking out 89 batters in 54 1 1/3 innings on the mound.

Medows has cemented himself as Cuba’s top catcher and number-two hitter in the batting order in his debut season at the high school level. He’s currently hitting .286 with four doubles, a triple, 28 runs scored, 11 stolen bases while throwing out seven runners trying to steal from his catcher’s position.

Wildcats drop regular season finale to Owensville

The Wildcats welcomed the Owensville Dutchmen to Paul Bryan Field for its last regular season game. Cuba looked like they were in control early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning, knocking Owensville starting pitcher Christopher Allen out of the game.

But Owensville relief pitcher Chase Werlich held the Wildcats scoreless for the next four innings, allowing the Dutchmen an opportunity to come back. Owensville did just that, scoring one run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to turn a 4-0 Cuba lead into an Owensville 6-4 advantage heading into the sixth inning.

Each team plated one run in the sixth inning and were held scoreless in the final inning as the Dutchmen walked away with a 7-5 victory, spoiling Cuba’s last chance to play in front of their home crowd.

Braden Gipson reached base all four times he came to bat, scored once, drove in a run and stole three bases to lead the Cats out of the leadoff spot in the order. Logan McDonald singled twice, walked and scored, Luke Whittaker roped a two-run single, Jaspar Silva singled and drove in a run, Layten Eikermann doubled and scored and Adam Doyle drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to round out Cuba’s offensive production.

Silva started on the mound, hurling 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and three earned runs. Cameron Carnal came out of the bullpen, tossing 1 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run, while striking out two.

Elijah Jesse then pitched the final three innings for the Wildcats The freshman right-hander surrendered two hits and one run while striking out three.

Owensville received multi-hit performances from Allen and sophomore first baseman Tucker Sassmann, who also drove in two runs. Weirich earned the win, after scattering eight hits and one earned run while striking out 13 Wildcats. Cuba’s junior varsity team lost 4-1 in the second matchup of the day between the Wildcats and the Dutchmen.

Pair of big innings, strong pitching fuels Cuba to win over Bourbon in districts 

The Wildcats scored one run in the first inning, five in the third and four in the fifth to power their way to a 10-0 walk-off victory over the Bourbon Warhawks.

Gipson started on the mound, hurling four shutout innings while striking out seven in 72 pitches. Elijah Jesse threw a scoreless fifth inning out of the bullpen.

Cuba senior Cameron Carnal played the last game of his high school career and said tearful goodbyes to teammates and coaches following the game because his family was headed on vacation before the Wildcat’s next game on Monday.

Carnal went out with a bang on the field, roping two base hits including his first triple of the season to go along with two runs scored and one run batted in.

Chase Hanes had a pair of singles, a run scored and two runs batted in, including what ended up the game-winning base hit and run batted in on a line drive to right field.

Carter Medows tripled and scored twice, Gipson slapped a pair of singles out of the leadoff spot and McMillian singled twice, drove in a run, scored and was intentionally walked out of respect from Bourbon head coach Danny Payne. 

Doyle reached base three times, drove in two and scored once, Eikermann singled, scored and drove in a run and Wyatt Littrell stole a base after coming on to pinch run. Bourbon was held to just two base hits, both singles from sophomore third baseman Dawson King.