Eckerle ends 17-game hit streak, then goes 2-for-3

By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

In the Hays Larks' 19th game of the summer on Tuesday, center fielder Brandon Eckerle's streak ended. For the first time all season, Eckerle, the team's consistent leadoff hitter, did not collect a hit. Eckerle's hitting streak ended at 17 games (he had a day off) when he finished 0-for-4, thrown out on a bunt, a groundout and two fly balls. Eckerle, the Larks' only returning all-Jayhawk League player and nicknamed "Mr. Quiet" by Hays manager Frank Leo, kept his usual even keel approach.

"It was in the back of my mind a little bit," he said. "I kind of knew that. I knew I was not going to be able to get a hit every game.

"I knew it was going to end sometime. I just try to get on base, and hopefully I can start another streak. I hit one or two balls pretty well. I was putting the ball in play. I wasn't too upset with myself. I am trying to learn to put things behind me and not let it carry over from yesterday."

On Wednesday, Eckerle's calm approach immediately helped.

"I can't let it affect my approach today. I just have to start over new and let my hits fall," he said.

Arguably the Larks' fastest player, Eckerle started the bottom of the first inning with a high chopper over the mound for an infield single.

He laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the second inning that led to a run and singled in the fifth to set up another run. He finished 2-for-3 in the Larks' 3-1 victory and continued his terrific summer.

"He is just Mr. Steady," Leo said. "He is a guy that is going to come to the park every day and work hard during BP and do his work on off-days and when the game starts, he is there, you can count on him. That is Brandon Eckerle.

" You can count on that guy. Guys might not think on the other team that you are not doing anything real flashy, but you look up, he is on base, he is stealing a base, scoring a run, making a great catch in the outfield."

Eckerle leads the team in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.412), on-base percentage (.481), fewest strikeouts per at-bat (seven in 64 at-bats) and steals (eight).

Helped by his speed and improved bunting that produced multiple bunt singles, Eckerle also leads the club in sacrifices (three) and stands second in hits (28) and runs (13) to Jason Morriss. Eckerle and Morriss are the lone Larks to start at least 18 of 19 contests this summer.

In the most recent release of Jayhawk League statistics at jayhawkbaseballeague.org, Eckerle is fourth in the conference in hitting (.400).

"He is very steady, consistent; that makes it easy to coach when you have a guy that is steady and consistent," Leo said. "You get nine guys that are steady and consistent like that, and coaching's easy."

Eckerle's hitting streak has helped Hays win seven of its last nine contests, including tying a season-best with three consecutive victories.

Hays moved up to third in the Jayhawk League after the Larks swept the two-game home series from Liberal and moved to 11-8 overall and 8-7 in the conference. The Larks will start a three-game road series versus Derby (12-8, 8-6) tonight.

Eckerle, a key cog on last season's Jayhawk League title team, said the 2009 club is "definitely" resembling last year's team that was known for late-inning victories, especially after a ninth inning comeback win Tuesday versus Liberal.

"I remember that a lot last summer," Eckerle said. "I think we are starting to turn it around a little bit, and starting to look like last year's team."

Eckerle, a second team all-Jayhawk League selection last summer, batted .298 and led the team in games played (50) and steals (24), a number that ranks in the top 10 on the Larks' all-time list.

This spring, he started every game for Michigan State University and helped the Spartans to their first Big 10 tournament since 2004.

Being in the lineup has helped Eckerle hone his consistent approach.

"It's just kind of learned from playing so many games," he said. "It's a real frustrating game. I can't help but get mad at myself at points when I am struggling, but you have to know that you have highs and lows.

"As soon as you go 4-for-4 one day, the next day you go 0-for-4. You just have to come out to the ballpark every day and just have the same mindset, and not let things get you down, and not let things get you too high."

Huwer produces

'pure baseball'

One area that Leo has addressed during the season's first month is hitting with men on base and with runners in scoring position. On Wednesday, the Larks had eight hits and left just five men on base.

With the exception of the sixth inning, Hays tallied at least one run every time it had a runner in scoring position.

Twice, designated hitter Joe Huwer drove in runs with a man on third base with less than two out -- an area he excelled at last summer for Hays.

"He tightens up the belt buckle with runners in scoring position," Leo said. "Sometimes with no one on base or a runner on first, he gets a little careless, a little impatient, and goes after pitches early in the count. I thought in these RBI situations he was very good. He was a little more patient."

In 2008, Huwer batted .305 and ranked in the top four on the team in four "productive" categories, including batting average with men on base, batting average with runners in scoring position, advancing runners and scoring runners from third base with less than two out.

During the regular season, Huwer led the team with scoring a runner from third base and less than two out with a 76.9 success rate (10-for-13).

On Wednesday, Huwer went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice, but finished with two RBIs.

In the third inning, he grounded to short to score Ben Turner with Hays' first run. Two innings later, he gave the Larks a 3-1 lead when he hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Sean Wilson.

"He didn't have a great night the other night, but he came back (Tuesday), had one of his best BPs, which sometimes doesn't mean anything, but you watch his swing, his BP rounds were excellent (Wednesday)," Leo said. "He was focused with his at-bats. He got the fly ball and the ground ball. We got two runs without hits. That's pure baseball."

Armed Forces Night

Wednesday marked Armed Forces Night at Larks Park. The park was adorned with flags in several places, along the outside perimeter of the complex, the top of the backstop and the bullpens. Before the game, pitching coach Keith Harper, nicknamed "Spiderman" for his ability to climb fences and walls, climbed to the top of the backstop to help set up the flags. A swearing-in ceremony was held before the first pitch and "God Bless America" was sung during the contest as part of the festivities. Several Larks players and personnel shook hands and talked with the many veterans before first pitch.

Bunts

Rick Devereaux and Rafael Valenzuela were both ill and unable to play Wednesday. The night off marked Devereaux's first game he has missed this season. Only second baseman Morriss has started and played in all 19 contests, while Devereaux and Eckerle rank second on the club with 18 games. and just five strikeouts in 43 at-bats. ... Game times have been set for the Larks' home series against the Colorado Sox on July 11 and 12. The teams will play a 6 p.m. doubleheader on July 11, and a single game at 6:30 p.m. on July 12.