Sophomore Bo Shinkle runs past home plate as freshman Jeremy Comer cheers him on. (Photo by: Vaughn Wheat).

On Thursday, the Cavs won a double-header against Labette to secure their place at the top of the KJCCC conference. A key player making strong moves this season has been sophomore hitter Bo Shinkle (28). 

“He’s been a steady presence in the lineup, so every day you know he’s going to barrel up the baseball and put pressure on the defense,” head coach Eric Horner said. 

So far this season, Shinkle has put up tremendous numbers, with a batting average of .439 and a slugging percentage of .645. His presence goes beyond the plates, dominating the outfield with 24 putouts and zero errors. 

“It’s always nice to know when the ball goes up in the air, he’s gonna get underneath it,” Horner said. 

Aside from his impressive statistics, Shinkle’s leadership qualities have been a driving force for the Cavaliers this season. His calm demeanor and inspiring abilities have fostered a strong sense of camaraderie between the team. His presence in both the lineup and the outfield boosts the team’s confidence and sets the bar for greatness and determination. 

“Getting into a calm mindset and envisioning myself having success before the game is the most important thing,” Shinkle said. “Doing whatever it takes to help the team find a way to win is the best thing that I got.” 

The Cavs will play their next home game in a double-header against Neosho County on April 12.