Article and Photos by Steven Hendrixson
Aug 18, 2026
This Tuesday, the MJHS Cubs matched up against the Mayo Redbirds in their second game of the season. The Junior Lions have high hopes this season. Last season, the Cubs defeated Casey-Westfield to win the IESA 2A Regional Championship. They then advanced on to sectionals where they matched up against Teutopolis Junior High, just barely losing in a close 3-5 game against the Wooden Shoes. The Junior Lions are looking to repeat last year’s success and advance past Sectionals to qualify for the State game.
The Lions got off to a slow start in the game, while Paris did an initial fly out and a base out. Paris then had two walks and four singles to go up 2-0 against the Cubs at the start of the game. Second Baseman Sam Welsh would eventually ground out a Paris batter to give Mayo its third out and end Paris’s momentum, and go into the Bottom 1st Inning.
In the Bottom of the 1st, it was Marshall’s turn to go on the offensive, where Marshall Cub Kale Platt walks, and then, after Colby Claypool hits a ground ball and reaches on an error, Kale Platt then runs a triple to score Marshall’s first one of the night. Colby Claypool would then reach third base off that initial error. Colby Claypool would then reach 4th base and score after Kole Nickles doubled on a fly ball. Scoring back to back runs off of one play and tying up the game 2-2.
The second and third inning would be pretty static, with neither team scoring a run yet refusing to budge. Marshall would do a great job defending in these innings. With Pitcher Colby Claypool taking up all of the pitching responsibility in these innings. With pitcher Colby Claypool striking out three straight batters at the start of the second, and grounding out one batter and striking out two more batters in the third.
In the top of the 4th, pitcher Kole Nickles would strike out two pitchers and a batter would fly out in foul territory to Colby Claypool.
The turning point would happen in the bottom of the 4th inning, where it would be a dominant inning for Marshall.
Here is a Play by Play:
Cooper Bayes singles on a ground ball,
Strike One, Ball 2 in Play, Strike one swinging, Cooper Bayes steals 2nd, Strike two swinging, Cooper Bays Advances to 3rd, Easton Huffington Walks, Cooper Bays stays at 3rd, Easton Huffington stays at 2nd, Sam Welsh walks, Ball 1, Strike 1 Swinging, Strike 2 Swinging, Jayse Gard singles on a line drive, Easton Huffington scores.
Putting Marshall up 3-2,
Sam Welsh advances to 3rd on the throw, Jayse Gard advances to 2nd on the throw, Cooper Bays scores.
Putting Marshall up 4-2,
Sam Welsh scores on a passed ball, Going up 5-2.
Jayse Gard advances to 3rd on same pitch, Chase Conrad advances to 2nd on same pitch, Brockton Philips walks, Jayse Gard remains at 3rd, Chase Conrad remains at 2nd, Chase Conrad walks, Sam Welsh remains at 3rd, Sam Welsh scores on passed ball, Jayse Conrad advances to 3rd on same pitch, Jayse Gard remains at 3rd, Jayse Gard scores.
Putting Marshall up 6-2.
Chase Conrad advances to 3rd on the same pitch, Brocton Phillips Steals 2nd, Kale Platt walks, Colby Claypool walks,
Chase Conrad scores, Marshall up 7-2.
Brocton Philips scores on a passed ball, Marshall up 8-2.
Kale Platt scores, Marshall up 9-2
The Junior Lions scored seven straight runs in the 4th inning, an absolutely pivotal inning for the Lions. Jayse Gard led the team in runs with two. The outfielder went 1-for-2 on the day. Bayes, Nickles, and Gard each collected one hit for the Cubs. The Cubs had great patience at the plate, accumulating nine walks for the game. Kale Platt and Sam Welsh led the team with two bases on balls each.
Pitcher Kole Nickles earned the win for the Junior High Lions, surrendering zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out four and walking two.
After the game, I got the chance to ask standout Marshall pitcher Kole Nickles three questions,
“What was your team's mindset going into the game?”
“What is your team’s ultimate goal this season?’
“Where do you guys see your team now at this point of the season compared to this point of the season last year?”
Nickles said, “We just wanted to go into the game playing with effort and know that we tried our best. Over the course of each game this season we hope to get better as a whole. I think that compared to last season, we definitely have more confidence in ourselves.”
The 2 and 0 Cubs will travel to Paris Crestwood Jr. High School for their next game on Friday August, 21st.