Turning back Cuba’s Wildcats 9-4 in the semifinals of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 8 Baseball Tournament semifinals back on Wednesday, May 20, Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tigers earned the right to face the defending MSHSAA Class 3 State baseball champion Fatima Comets in the district title game the next day on Thursday, May 21.

Seeing semifinal action moved to Owensville High School due to wet and unplayable field conditions thanks to early-week heavy rain, Belle was able to get Tiger Field inside Belle City Park ready to host the district title game.

Falling behind 2-0 entering the bottom of the first inning, Belle had a golden opportunity to answer Fatima’s two early tally marks.

Garrett Gehlert and Hank Stratman both drew walks with no outs off of Comet ace Blake Kliethermes before the Fatima hurler retired the next three batters ending the threat.

Going the next four innings without a base runner, Belle saw their Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) championship season end at 16-8 following a 5-0 loss to Fatima.

Fatima advanced to host Centralia’s Panthers last night (Tuesday) in Westphalia during sectional competition.

After the two first-inning walks to Gehlert and Stratman, Belle’s next base runner did not come until the bottom of the sixth inning when Stratman drew his second walk of the game.

Gehlert took the season-ending loss for Belle allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks to go with eight strikeouts.

Tigers vs. Cuba

Facing Cuba’s Wildcats in the district semifinals last Wednesday at Owensville High School’s OHS Field, Belle trailed 2-0 and 4-3 during the first three innings before a pair of three-run frames later in the contest helped the Tigers end Cuba’s season by a final score of 9-4.

Engaging in a pair of one-run contests during the regular season, Belle was looking to take the rubber game from Cuba in a showdown of GVC diamond rivals.

Cuba got on the board in the top of the first inning with two runs on three walks and two hits before the Tigers got their chance to answer in the bottom half of the first.

Gehlert led the frame off with a triple to right field before a two-out rally ensued.

Gage Terrill drove in Gehlert on a RBI ground out cutting Cuba’s lead in half before Belle took their first lead of the game when their next three batters reached base.

A Ryder Butler single and a Cameron Rehmert walk led to a two-RBI double off the bat of Lathan Miller giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead after one inning.

Answering with a run in the top of the second and third innings, Cuba reclaimed a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the third inning.

Whoever came up with the old adage that good things come in threes was spot on last Wednesday.

Belle doubled their run total in the bottom of the third inning with three runs on four hits.

Stratman started the frame with a leadoff triple before scoring on a Terrill RBI single tying the game at 4-4.

Butler then reached on a one-out single before Rehmert found his way back on the base paths via a fielder’s choice with Terrill being retired at third base.

Chase Trainor made it all about the baseball lacing it into center field for a two-out, two-RBI double giving the Tigers a 6-4 lead through three innings.

Stratman came on in relief of Butler and Rehmert allowing just a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth inning before Belle tacked on three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth.

Sending nine batters to the plate, Luke Rohrer led the bottom of the sixth off for the Tigers with a single before a Gehlert single and a walk to Stratman loaded the bases for Terrrill.

Already with two RBIs in the game, Terrill picked up another one reaching on a fielder’s choice allowing Rohrer and Gehlert to score.

Butler later drove in Belle’s final run of the game on a RBI single scoring Stratman.

Earning the win, Stratman pitched five innings of relief allowing no runs on two hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.

A complete recap of postseason honors earned by Belle Tiger baseball players will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of The Advocate once those lists are officially released.