Monarchs roll by Larned, reach 3A state tourney
By CONOR NICHOLL
In Tuesday's practice, the Thomas More Prep-Marian softball team spent nearly two and a half hours of the three-hour workout on batting in preparation for the Class 3A regional final against Larned on Wednesday afternoon.
"We did nothing but working on bunting and hitting and talking about the strike zone, pitchers' count and batters' count," head coach Alan Billinger said. "We did a lot of talking, we did a lot of tee work, off the machine and off of live pitching."
The hitting work, which Billinger called the most of any one practice all season, helped the Monarchs score six first-inning runs against Larned, and win 8-1. The Monarchs, including a first-round bye in the regional, are 21-1. The defending Class 4A state champions, the Monarchs have made it to state every year since 2003 and never finished worse than fourth. Senior second baseman Chelsea Fieler, the team's leading hitter with a .469 batting average, led the offense with three hits. Sophomore Kaylee Hoffman (9-1) earned the win.
"There were times when we didn't get hits, but the ball was really hit hard right at somebody, whether it was in the infield or in the outfield," Billinger said. "We did a very good job of making ball contact tonight and I was very happy with that."
Before the game, though, TMP-Marian had to make a few last-second adjustments to its lineup.
The Monarchs played without junior center fielder Alicia Hammeke, the No. 5 hitter for the last part of the season. Hammeke, batting .411, hurt her ankle in pregame workouts and is on crutches. A ground ball hit Hammeke in the ankle and Billinger said it "ballooned up."
"We had to carry her off the field and she is on crutches right now," Billinger said. "She is done for the week for sure until she gets it checked."
Billinger also moved sophomore Sophia Schippers to left field and replaced junior Heidi Fieler. Senior Maddy Mall, who has started at least one game at four positions and pitched in several others, moved to center field from first base and replaced Hammeke in the batting order.
Sophomore Hannah Schippers, who hasn't seen much playing time this spring and is hampered by a shoulder problem that will require post-season summer softball surgery, played first base in Mall's place, the first time Schippers has ever played first base.
"Every time it seemed like we put somebody in, they did a good thing for us," Billinger said. "I was pleased with our bench play, too."
The Schippers, who have combined for 29 varsity at-bats this spring, batted eighth and ninth and combined for two hits and a walk.
"I thought they did a great job of hitting the ball," Billinger said. "Real happy with their play, especially."
Pitching-wise, Hoffman, a left-hander, struck the first seven batters. She had 10 strikeouts and allowed four hits against a Larned offense that had a strong first four batters. Hoffman has also been working on her rise ball grip, a grip that Billinger said "worked out real well tonight."
"I think her speed was very good tonight," Billinger said. "The couple hits that they did get were off of changeups that I had called because I told her we wanted to work on the changeup a little bit. I think Kaylee pitched a very good game tonight."
The Class 3A state tournament will be at Twin Oaks Complex in Manhattan next Friday and Saturday.
