After taking the regional title last Wednesday, the Humboldt Cubs will make their 2025 state tournament debut Thursday in Manhattan.
With the location of the state tournament now locked down after Kansas State High School Activities Association resolved a potential logistical conflict with the state contest, the Cubs will depart Humboldt 9 a.m. Thursday following a ceremony at the Humboldt High School athletic complex.
The Cubs (23-4) enter Thursday’s tournament as the second seed and take on the seventh-seed Russell-Victoria Broncos (18-11).
The Broncos punched their ticket to state following a Cinderella run where they upset fourth-seed Cimarron (16-9) 8-2 and then downed top-seeded Holcomb (19-5) 7-3 before ousting second seed Colby (15-5) in a 6-0 shutout for the regional title.
If the Cubs win, they advance to Friday’s 1:15 p.m. semifinal. They will either face third-seed Wichita Trinity Academy (24-5) or sixth-seed Columbus (17-10).
On the other side of the bracket, top-seed Jefferson West (26-2) takes on seventh-seed Sabetha (16-12) while fourth-seed Silver Lake (21-7) faces fifth-seed Hesston (16-6).
Humboldt has not faced any team in their state tournament bracket this season.
The Cubs enter the contest riding an 11-game win streak, including victories over state-ranked Pioneer League champion Iola (16-8) in the regional semifinals and then Pioneer League runner-up Burlington (19-6) in the regional championship.
A win Thursday will also guarantee a spot in either the third-place game at 3:30 p.m. Friday or the championship game at 5:45 p.m. later that day. 
Teammates dogpile junior Mason Sterling following last Wednesday’s win.
All games will take place at Tointon Family Stadium on the campus of Kansas State University.
