The Keuka Wolves baseball earned postseason recognition Wednesday after returning to the Empire 8 playoffs for the first time since 2021, with outfielder Evan Cuba being named Third Team All-Empire 8 while senior Derek Novicki also received conference honors for his leadership and career accomplishments.
Cuba played a major role in Keuka’s resurgence this spring, batting .381 with 40 hits while driving in a team-best 30 runs. He tied for the team lead with 14 extra-base hits, including eight doubles, three triples and three home runs, and finished with a .600 slugging percentage that ranked among the best single-season marks in program history. Cuba also posted a .477 on-base percentage, another top-10 season mark for the Wolves.
The outfielder closed his season with a historic performance in the Empire 8 Tournament against Utica, blasting a pair of two-run home runs to become the first player in program history to hit two homers in a postseason game.
Novicki capped off his collegiate career with one of his strongest seasons, finishing with a .393 batting average and a team-high 46 hits. His .493 on-base percentage ranked fifth in a single season in program history, while his batting average also cracked the school’s top 10. The senior concluded his career ranked among Keuka’s all-time leaders in hits, doubles, RBIs and walks.
In addition to his on-field success, Novicki was one of nine student-athletes honored by the conference for leadership, sportsmanship and excellence in the classroom and community.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
