HUMBOLDT — With two last at-bat, come-from-behind wins Monday, Humboldt High’s Cubs clinched at least a share of the Tri-Valley League baseball championship.
The Cubs’ 7-6 and 13-12 wins over visiting Caney Valley High’s Bullpups put them at 9-3 in league play. Burlington is also 9-3. Neodesha could finish 9-3 with wins over Eureka.
Also on Monday, Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs lost a pair of Tri-Valley League games to league champion Caney Valley. The Lady Bullpups beat the Lady Cubs 13-6 and 15-1.
The Lady Cubs finished 5-7 in TVL action and 10-10 overall. Melissa Davidson pitched both games for Humboldt, allowing seven hits and three walks in the first game and 11 hits and one walk in the second contest.
“We had seven errors in both games. That will not win very many games,” said Brad Piley, Lady Cub head coach.
Kayle Riebel had two singles and three RBIs for Humboldt in the opener. Taylor Fitzmaurice doubled. Hitting a single each were Taylyn Wells, Davidson, Morgan Morris and Kindahl Young.
In the second game, Wells had two singles and Julie Seibert tripled. Hitting a single each were Fitzmaurice, Hannah McCall, K. Riebel, Megan Herder and Young.
Humboldt head baseball coach Mike Miller was proud of the way his players performed in the final doubleheader of the regular season.
“With a league championship on the line, I felt some of our guys came out a little tight and pressed in the beginning but they battled and did what it took to win,” Miller said.
The Cubs were up 6-2 over Caney Valley in the first game. The Bullpups got a run in the sixth then tied it with three more in the top of the seventh.
Nick Wiltse singled, stole second and went to third on a two-out wild pitch. Christian Wiltse drew a walk and the winning run came in because of a balk by the Bullpup pitcher.
N. Wiltse had two singles and a triple in the game. Winning pitcher Grayson Pearish and Caleb D’Armond each hit two singles. Nathan Whitcomb and Seth Nickell each had a base hit.
Nickell picked up the pitching victory in the second game in relief. Whitcomb started then Caleb Vanatta followed by Nickell. They combined to give up 10 hits, walk nine and hit three batters in a 13-12 win.
The Cubs trailed 12-9 after five innings. They got a run in the sixth then with two gone in the seventh the Cubs took advantage of an error and free passes to load the bases.
Vanatta drew a walk to force in a run. Whitcomb cranked out a two-run, walk-off single for the Cubs.
“That was one of the most exciting games that I have ever been a part of,” Miller said. “It was back and forth the entire game and even though we were down to our final out, we never gave up.”
Whitcomb had three singles and Vanatta had a triple and a single. Hitting a single each were Hunter Murrow, Alex Murrow, N. Wiltse, D’Armond, Nickell and C. Wiltse.
The Cubs finished the regular season at 15-5.
Cubs clinch share of TVL title
