While it may not have ended in storybook fashion, the Cuba High School baseball program took a significant leap this season.

The Wildcats finished with a 12-14 record, its highest win total since the 2016-17 season after falling on May 20 to Belle. To put it in perspective, Cuba won seven games in the last two seasons combined before this season’s resurgence.

The Wildcats will lose seniors Wyatt McMillian and Adam Doyle who hit in the number three and number four spots in the batting order and were Cuba’s top run producers. Doyle hit .363 with a team-high 32 runs batted in and McMillian had a .403 batting average with a team-high six doubles and two home runs to go along with 26 runs batted in. Both players were All-Conference selections and have a chance to be recognized by the district and the area.

Cuba will also lose fellow seniors Cameron Carnal, Jaspar Silva, Carson Layman and Gavin Robinson and head coach Randy Bouse spoke about what he will miss from his team’s elder statesmen and leaders.

“We’ll miss their leadership, and you could see the kids gravitate towards them,” Bouse said. “Those are guys that have been through it when things were tough, so they know how we want to do things, and so they lead the right way. They’re there for everybody, they practice hard, they’re cheerleaders, they encourage guys, so losing their leadership is going to be really hard to replace. But I think we got some guys that are up for the challenge.”

The normally stoic assistant coach CJ Crader held back tears while addressing his seniors during the team’s final meeting after the loss to Belle.

“You guys didn’t give up. What you guys had to endure at the start of your time here, I’m really proud of you guys. You left the program in a way better place. Going through the struggle will make you a better person. Attack life, work and school and don’t be strangers. Appreciate you guys, love you guys and I’m so proud of you guys,” Crader said.

Cuba will return its other star, Braden Gipson, for his senior season. Gipson, an All-Conference selection in his sophomore and junior season, had a team-high .471 batting average, 30 runs scored and 16 stolen bases hitting out of the leadoff spot. Gipson was also Cuba’s ace pitcher, finishing with a 7-1 record, a 1.52 earned run average, while striking out 94 batters in 59 2/3 innings. He will return as Cuba’s leadoff hitter and ace for his final go around with a bevy of young talent surrounding him.

Starting second baseman Logan McDonald and Jesse Shireman will also return for their senior seasons and starting first baseman Luke Whittaker still has two years left as a Wildcat. Cuba also had five freshmen start the district semifinal game and receive significant playing time throughout the year.

Freshman catcher Carter Medows led the talented bunch, batting second in the lineup and was an All-Conference selection in his debut season. Meadows finished with a .288 batting average with four doubles, a triple, 13 stolen bases and tied Gipson for a team-high 30 runs scored. Meadows also gunned down seven runners trying to steal bases throughout the season.

Fellow freshman Layten Eikermann, Aiden Moreland, Chase Hanes and Cooper Medows all showed signs of tremendous potential while contributing right away at the varsity level. Bouse spoke about the leap he expects from his strong freshman class and the need to find pitching depth with the losses of Carnal and Silva.

“This game (district semifinals) alone we started five freshmen, so the foundation is there. We’re going to have to take the next step, especially pitching wise. We’ve got some gaps, we’re going to have to fill on the mound behind Braden. You know, him at the top of the rotation makes things easy. It’s filling in behind him,” Bouse said.

“We’re losing two all-conference bats in the middle of our lineup that we’re gonna have to replace,” said Bouse. “So I think we got guys that are ready to take that next step. There’s always a huge growth between freshman and sophomore year, so I’m excited to see what the summer does for these kids and what they look like when we start getting back together in January.”

Wildcats fall to Belle in district semifinals

After mother nature cancelled games on back-to-back days, the district tournament shifted from Belle to Owensville to give the teams a turf infield and supposed better field conditions. While the infield didn’t seem like a problem, Cuba’s outfielders repeatedly hit the deck and looked to be attempting to run in a slip-and-slide while navigating the wet and slick conditions. 

The Wildcats looked to be in control from the get go. Cuba put across a pair of runs and had the bases loaded with nobody out, forcing  Belle manager Bryce Gehlert to immediately go to his bullpen. But Tigers relief pitcher Cameron Rehmert bore down and retired the Wildcats without giving up any more runs.

Belle then responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead. Cuba tied the game in the top of the second and scored one more in the top of the fourth to regain a 4-3 lead.

However with two outs, Belle rallied and scored three runs on singles from Chase Trainor and Gage Terrill that put the Tigers up 6-4 and proved to be the difference in the game.

After the Wildcats knocked out Belle’s first two pitchers, the Tigers went to the Gasconade Valley Conference Player of the Year, Hank Stratman, who was reportedly throwing over 90 miles an hour. Stratman mixed in a wicked slider to go along with his heat and hurled five shutout innings, while scattering just two hits to stifle any chance of a Cuba comeback.

The score remained at 6-4 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Belle added three more runs before eventually coming away with a 9-4 victory.

Cuba finished with seven hits and six walks, but couldn’t put away the Tigers early when their backs were against the wall.

Bouse gave his thoughts on how he viewed the game.

“I think their (Belle’s) experience kind of settled them in, and I think we got a little tighter as the game went on,” Bouse said. “They went to their ace and the conference player of the year, and I think we tensed up a little bit. Our approach in our game plan early on worked really well. We were able to put runs across the first three innings, but then after that I felt like we got a little tight, just could never kind of get over the hump.”

Doyle led the Wildcats with two hits and two runs batted in during his final game wearing the black and gold. Carter Medows walked, singled, scored twice and stole two bases and Eikermann singled and stole a base. Gipson walked, singled, scored and drove in a run, McDonald singled and scored, Cooper Medows singled and McMillian walked twice.

Gipson hurled 5 1 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking two while taking his first loss of the season. Silva came on for the final two outs, getting both batters while whiffing one. Garrett Gehlert, Hank Stratman, Miller and Butler all collected multiple base hits and Terrill drove in a game-high four runs out of the three-spot of Belle’s batting order.