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Monarchs start state with win
Published on -8/1/2012, 9:01 PM
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kspiller@dailynews.net
The Hays Monarchs got off to a strong start Wednesday at the Class AA American Legion State Baseball Tournament in Sabetha, and did it in come-from-behind fashion in an 8-7 win against Beloit.
Hays improved to 18-11, while Beloit dropped to 36-7.
The Monarchs outhit Beloit 11 to 6, but the Monarchs' pitchers struggled with their control, walking eight Beloit batters. Of those eight walks, six scored.
"It was one we had to grind out," said Monarchs coach Dustin Schumacher. "We hit the ball really well and played some good defense. We just had trouble throwing strikes through the whole game."
In the top of the third, starting pitcher Nathan Zimmerman walked the bases loaded, and Beloit took advantage, scoring four.
The Monarchs battled back from the 4-1 deficit to take an 8-4 lead in the fifth inning. Beloit rallied, scoring three in the sixth inning and putting two runners on base in the seventh before Nick Hammeke ended the inning to earn the save.
Zimmerman (2-0) pitched five innings and struck out eight, but he also walked six.
"(Zimmerman) just kind of labored out there," Schumacher said. "He had some really good stretches and then he had some stretches where he walked some people."
Schumacher said Beloit had a variety of pitchers. Their starter, Lance Wolting, had a strong fastball, while reliever Kevin Street had solid breaking balls.
Nevertheless, the Monarchs still had 11 hits. Hammeke, Zimmerman, outfielder Jacob Fouts and outfielder Colby Schippers each finished with a double.
"We did a really good job adjusting," Schumacher.
The Monarchs will play Silver Lake in the second round at 6 p.m. in Sabetha.
Silver Lake defeated Ellis 13-3 in six innings in the first round.
"It's big to get that first win," Schumacher said. "It gets those first-game jitters out of the way, and we are looking forward to the next game."
