By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Thomas More Prep-Marian sophomore Nick Hammeke has been used as a relief pitcher thus far for the Monarch baseball team.
That will change this week.
For the first time since the season began two weeks ago, the Monarchs will be playing a pair of doubleheaders in the same week, leaving the door open for Hammeke to step into a starting role when TMP-Marian travels to Ulysses on Friday.
He prepared for his start by shutting down Mid-State Activities Association foe Larned twice in relief during Tuesday's doubleheader at TMP field. He helped the Monarchs almost rally for a victory in Game 1, then ended a Larned threat in a Monarch win in the nightcap, both times pitching just the seventh. Larned won the opener, 4-3, then TMP-Marian capitalized on a lack of Indian pitching depth to win Game 2, 16-10.
"He is always so consistent, goes in there and throws strikes, keeps the defense on their toes if they do put the ball in play," Monarch third-year coach Brian Schumacher said of Hammeke. "You don't really have to worry about him running the pitch count up like with some other guys."
Hammeke threw two shutout innings in the doubleheader, relieving senior Jake VonLintel in Game 1, then junior Nathan Zimmerman in the nightcap, giving up just one baserunner, on an error in Game 2.
The Monarchs' top two starters -- VonLintel (1-2) and Zimmerman (3-0) -- have been well-rested before their three starts each. Now Hammeke and sophomore left-hander Pierce Schippers will be thrown into the mix.
"We told Nick, with him working relief so far, he's going to get the start, and we'll see how everyone feels," Schumacher said. "Nick in the first game, maybe Jake and maybe Zim, then Pierce Schippers, too. We'll try and get some innings in for him."
TMP-Marian moved to 4-2 on the season, and 2-2 in the MSAA with Tuesday's split.
In Game 1, TMP-Marian, which struggled against the breaking ball by Larned starter Garrett Vratil early, managed two runs in the seventh inning to get within a run, but left a runner at second, their 11th one stranded in the game. Vratil, who also went 3-for-4 at the plate against VonLintel, had 17 strikeouts, pitching a complete game with five walks and four hits.
"We still struggled," Schumacher said of the breaking ball. "We're going to work on it. We haven't done a whole lot in practice on it. Obviously, placed it well and kept us off-balance."
Larned (2-8, 2-2), which plays a difficult schedule that includes Western Athletic Conference members Great Bend, Liberal and Hays High, put up two runs in the first on back-to-back RBI bunt singles.
The Monarchs left the bases loaded in the first with no outs.
They did it again in the fourth, this time loading them with two outs. Both innings ended on strikeouts.
"Leaving eight base runners in three different innings, those are the things we need to be doing," Schumacher said. "Second game we came out more loose and started hitting the ball a lot better."
In the nightcap, Larned left-hander Cameron Bauer felt something pop in his chest while warming up for the second inning, and was pulled for Josh Reason. The Monarchs capitalized on several walks, turning a 4-1 deficit into a 11-4 lead after the second inning. Reason walked four and hit three batters in the inning, while Zimmerman provided a two-run single to help the Monarchs. It was part of his 5-for-5 game in the nightcap with four runs scored, a double and three RBIs, helping him get his third win of the season on the mound.
"We took advantage of things they did not do, which basically they did against us in the first game," Schumacher said.
Larned used four pitchers, who combined for 14 walks and hit batters. Zimmerman was the only Monarch with multiple hits.
Larned narrowed the lead to 14-10 in the sixth, but the Monarchs scored on two passed balls in its half of the sixth, and Hammeke did the rest.
"With us being as young as we are, just picking up a win," Schumacher said. "We need to have the confidence to get ready for Ulysses on Friday -- two more league games."
