HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s frontline pitchers were on point Tuesday.
The Cubs’ Logan Page tossed a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 nailbiter over Caney Valley, before Kyler Isbell was nearly as effective in the nightcap, limiting the Bullpups to four hits in a 7-2 victory.
“We put together our two most complete games of the year,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “Logan and Kyler were both incredible in their starts. Caney has a really good team. For them to keep their lineup in check was really important. Our defense made some really nice plays behind them in some key situations.”
The only run in the opener came after leadoff hitter Blake Ellis reached on a dropped third strike to start the bottom of the first. He moved up to third on Sam Hull’s single, and scored on Colden Cook’s sacrifice fly to center.
The Cubs left runners on second and third in a scoreless second, and then put two runners on base in the fifth but couldn’t score on either.
Page made sure it was enough, striking out five over seven innings.
Caney Valley’s Nate Kaminska was no slouch, either, limiting Humboldt to six hits.
Hull had a pair of singles, while Ellis, Mason Sterling, Isbell and Brody Gunderman each had singles.
“We hit into some tough luck in the first game and should have had a few more runs,” Miller said. “We were able to start fast in the second game and get out to an early lead. I thought we competed in our at-bats more than we have all year.”
Sam Hull got things going in Game 2 when he reached on a one-out error, stole second and scored on a Cook ground ball. Back-to-back singles from Sterling and Isbell drove in another run before Sterling made it 3-0 by scoring on a passed ball.
Jacob Harrington and Cole Mathes triggered another three-run inning in the second by leading off the frame with consecutive singles. Ellis brought Harrington home on a squeeze play. Mathes scored on a wild pitch and Cook made it 6-0 with an RBI single.
Caney Valley got two runs back in the top of the third before both offenses were held off the board through the middle portion.
Humboldt’s final tally came in the sixth after Ellington and Mathes singled and Ellis walked to load the bases. Harrington came in to score on a passed ball with one out.
Isbell struck out four over seven innings.
At the plate, Hull, Harrington and Mathes each had two singles. Adding one single apiece were Cook, Sterling and Isbell had one hit apiece.
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