Since April 28, Humboldt High’s Cubs have chalked up four marks in the win column in five outings. They have one Tri Valley League doubleheader left in the regular season.
The Cubs resumed a game interrupted in the top of the third inning against Cherryvale last Thursday. The Cubs won it 13-8 with a 15-hit offensive attack.
Nathan Whitcomb went the distance on the mound, allowing six hits to the Chargers, walking four and hitting three batters. He struck out eight.
Whitcomb also went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double. Seth Nickel hit a home run and a double while Grayson Pearish had a single and a home run.
Hunter Murrow and Caleb Vanatta each had a single and a double. Taylor Lhuillier doubled while Nick Wiltse and Caleb D’Armond each singled.
That put Humboldt at 7-3 in TVL play. It hosts Caney Valley Monday in the final games of the regular season.
Humboldt played four non-league games, two at Oswego last Friday and two at Erie Tuesday.
“We got exposed in a few areas on defense (against Erie) that we need to get back on the practice field and correct before regionals get here,” said Mike Miller, Cub head coach.
It was all or nothing for the Cubs at Erie. They committed nine errors in a 16-9 loss to the Red Devils then came back to blow out their hosts 24-6 in five innings.
Erie scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after Humboldt had taken a 7-2 lead. Pearish and Vanatta pitched for the Cubs.
Pearish hit three singles and Lhuillier had two singles. Vanatta had a single and a double. D’Armond doubled. H. Murrow, N. Wiltse and Nickel each had a single.
The Cubs used a seven-run second to gain an 8-6 lead after two innings. They had a nine-run fourth to pull away. Nickel went the distance on the mound for the Cubs, allowing seven hits, walking three, hitting one batter and striking out four.
Alex Murrow had two singles and a double. D’Armond and Christian Wiltse had two singles each. Hitting a single each were H. Murrow, Whitcomb, Lhuillier, Pearish, Nickel and Ryan Gean.
“We weren’t sharp defensively or at the plate in these games. We have to work to get better,” Miller said.
Last Friday, Humboldt won 5-3 and 16-0 in four innings at Oswego.
Miller said the Cubs got great pitching performances from Alex Murrow in the first game and Nickel in the second. The Cubs played well defensively, he said, including making key plays with runners on base in the opener.
“It was good to see Seth bounce back after two rough outings on the mound,” Miller said.
Whitcomb connected for a single, a double and a home run in the first game. H. Murrow and Lhuillier each had two singles. Nickel homered and Vanatta singled.
Hunter Murrow had three singles in the second game. Vanatta cranked out a home run and a single. Nickel had two singles.
Hitting a single each were Whitcomb, Lhuillier, Pearish and D’Armond.
Cubs win four of five games
