GREAT BEND The Humboldt Cubs avoided a repeat of last years state tournament showing by eking out a 5-4 win against Olathe-Heritage Christian Academy in the 2-1A state tournament.
Last year, the fifth-seeded Cubs fell victim to a 5-4 ninth-inning walk-off loss to Riley County which ended their season.
Now seeded fourth, the Cubs went the distance in 10 innings.
Down a run, junior Jackson Aikins hit a single, his second hit in a game where hits were very hard to come by. A pop-out on the next batter gave senior Dagen Goodner, the Cubs reliever, a shot to keep Humboldt alive.
Two consecutive strikes zip by, putting the senior in the hole. But then two foul balls come in the mix and the Charger pitcher walks Goodner and now Aikens is on second.
Just one pitch into the next at-bat and both runners steal their next base. Junior Taylor Lassman fights his way through nine pitches including six foul balls before finding something he likes and sending it into left field. The Heritage Christian outfielder bounds forward but the ball falls just short of his glove as both Goodner and Aikins fly into home, ending the game at 5-4. And then the sizable crowd of spectators emitted a big sigh of relief and jubilation for the Cub players and coaches.
You better believe that we talked about how state went for us last year in the dugout as the game got later and later, head coach Mike Miller said. We were in the same position this year and we knew how to handle it. They just needed to dig down deep and keep battling and they did it.
THE GAME didnt start nearly as exciting as it ended. In fact, just one run apiece was scored between the two teams for the first five innings.
Junior Gunner Elder got the start and held down the fort, allowing just one run on two hits and six walks across six innings. Though Elder found himself in multiple jams, including when the Chargers loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with one out, he always managed to find a way out.
Its either win or go home, Elder said. And I refused to think about losing. I knew that my team would back me up. We just kept pushing forward and we didnt get down on ourselves and thats what won us the ball game.
An inning later, Humboldt had a 2-1 lead and needed just three outs to walk away with a win. Goodner, who had taken over for Elder, struck out the first Charger before hurting himself on a routine put-out at first, allowing a runner on second.
Goodner fought through the pain and went back out. After one pitch, the Heritage Christian batter put the ball over the left field fence to take the lead. And as if it couldnt get any worse, the Cubs committed another error on the next play allowing another guy on base.
Humboldt managed a double-play to get out of the inning and pressed forward.
Its about mental toughness, Miller said. Theyve got it. Theyre all hard workers. Theyve experienced success and they know what it takes. They found a way.
After the home run, Goodner was really sharp. In what was supposed to be a one-inning appearance, the senior went four innings and earned the win allowing three runs (two earned) with the lone home run as the only hit along with two walks.
NOW THE CUBS have the night to recover and refocus themselves. Theyll start the day off at 10 a.m. versus one-seed Elkhart in the semifinal, assuming the weather continues to stay out of the way. A win there will put them in the championship game later that evening.
