HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High baseball team fell in heartbreaking fashion in the Class 3A state tournament semifinal game to Wichita Collegiate last Friday.
The Cubs (23-3) made an eight-run comeback to knot the game in the fifth inning, but Wichita Collegiate won it in the eighth on a go-ahead throwing error, 9-8.
“Wichita Collegiate has a great team and for us to go toe-to-toe with them says a lot about our guys,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “They gave everything they had and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Humboldt’s season was one of triumph after they finished the regular season with a near-perfect record of 19-1. The Cubs did so with only two upperclassmen on the team, senior Trey Sommer and junior Sam Hull.
“We had an incredible season and a lot to be proud of,” said Miller. “We lose one senior in Trey Sommer. He’s had an incredible career and was a big part of our success this season. He will be difficult to replace but I know this experience will help our young team and prepare us for another run next season.”
Sophomores Logan Page, Kyler Isbell and Blake Ellis and freshman Mason Sterling were some of the younger Cubs who made their names known throughout the Tri-Valley League with their play. They will also be counted on next season alongside Hull. 
Humboldt went on a nine-game winning streak to open the season before losing to Central Heights at home in the annual Walter Johnson Memorial Tournament, 5-4. Over the entire season, the Cubs outscored their opponents by a final score of 180-50.
There were eight games where Cub pitchers tossed shutouts, including a stretch of five out of seven games.
Hull and Sommer earned KABC All-State honors for their work on the diamond. Hull received All-State First Team and Sommer took All-State Honorable Mention.
Logan Page, Blake Ellis, Hull and Sommer also received Tri-Valley All-League honors.
Humboldt v. Wichita Collegiate; 9-8 loss
After going down by eight runs after the top of the fifth inning, the Cubs made a valiant comeback in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game at 8-8. It unfortunately was not enough for Humboldt to come out on top.
Wichita Collegiate’s winning run crossed home plate on a throwing error to third base which sailed into left field and allowed the Spartan runner on third to come home for the 9-8 victory.
Page struggled on the mound for the Cubs allowing three runs in the first inning. Page threw 42 pitches in the first inning alone and was pulled after 4.1 innings.
“I think he was just a little too amped up to start the game,” Miller said. “He left a lot of pitches up and fell behind to a lot of hitters. They were able to run his pitch count up early.”
