Hays Post Sports
HAYS —The TMP-Marian Monarchs finished 2-1 and earned a second-place finish at the Hays Diamond Classic, closing out the tournament with a 5-2 win over the host Indians on Saturday.
The Monarchs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, scoring on a wild pitch, a Ty Schmeidler RBI groundout and a Logan Baalmann RBI single in the top of the first inning.
Those three runs were all TMP starter Schmeidler (4-0) needed as he pitched six-plus innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with a career-high 12 strikeouts and three walks.
Trailing 3-0, Hays’ Casen Hardman drove in the Indians’ first run.
TMP (21-1) answered in the top of the fifth, scoring on a two-run single by Baalmann to extend the lead to 5-1.
Hays (8-11) added another run on a Cade Jennings single in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Schmeidler recorded his 12th strikeout with two runners on to preserve the 5-2 lead.
In the seventh, Caden Dinkel closed out the TMP victory for the save.
Baalmann finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs for TMP. Dinkel also collected a pair of hits.
Dinkel, Schmeidler and Carson Liles were named to the all-tournament team.
Paxton Shaw finished 2 for 3 with an RBI for Hays. He also took the loss for the Indians, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Shaw and Hardman were both named to the all-tournament team for Hays.