HUMBOLDT — An early first inning deficit was too much for the Humboldt High Cubs to overcome in an opening game loss to Central Heights. The Cubs took down Neodesha in their second game of the Walter Johnson Memorial Tournament on Friday.
In the opening round loss, the Cubs let a 2-0 deficit in the top of the first inning hinder them the rest of the way in a 5-4 loss. Humboldt then used some shutdown pitching from Trey Sommer and scored nine runs in the fourth inning in a 13-0 victory.
Game one — Central Heights
In his start on the mound for Humboldt, Kyler Isbell gave up two runs. Humboldt responded in the bottom of the first with two runs.
“I took away the importance of being ready to play from the first pitch,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “We made some errors there which are usually routine plays and it resulted in a couple of runs for them. Also, it’s the first time we lost this season so the bounce back from a loss like that is always good.”
Humboldt led 3-2 after the second inning but Central Heights plated three runs in the fourth for the 5-3 lead. In the sixth, Humboldt came up with one more in the 5-4 loss.
Sam Hull led off the game with a solo homer.
Isbell worked into the fourth inning after serving up five runs on six hits through 3.1 innings.
“Kyler did a really good job. Defensively, we let him down a few times,” said Miller. “We gave up two unearned runs in the first inning. In a game that ends with a one-run difference, those runs we gave away turned out to be pretty big. We’ve got to be ready from the first pitch.”
He also struck out six Vikings. Hull replaced Isbell, throwing 3.2 innings and striking out three.
Jacob Harrington led the Cubs at the plate with two hits while Logan Page, Mason Sterling, Cole Mathes and Hull each drove in one run.
Central Heights was led at the plate by Luke Burkdoll’s two RBIs while Conner Peel, Nick Shultze and Laiken Brockus each drove in one run. Burkdoll also had a team-high two hits.
Game two — Neodesha
Dominant pitching and a late offensive surge at the plate propelled the Cubs past Neodesha, 13-0.
Sommer went untouched through four innings on the mound while striking out eight. Then Page came on in relief and threw one inning without allowing a hit or a run. Page struck out two Neodesha batters.
