Hays Post Sports
SALINA — TMP starter Ty Schmeidler racked up double-digit strikeouts for the fifth time in the last six games, and the Monarchs took advantage of six walks and six hit batters on their way to a 10-0 win over the Humboldt Cubs in the Class 2-1A state quarterfinals Monday in Salina.
In each of the last two seasons, TMP’s Ty Schmeidler carried a no-hitter through six innings in his first start of the state tournament, only to come out on the losing end.
Monday, he allowed a leadoff single, ending the suspense early, but Schmeidler was just as dominant, allowing just one hit with two walks and 11 strikeouts in five shutout innings.
Schmeidler improved to 6-0 on the season.
The Monarchs’ offense got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four times despite recording just one hit.
Ian Nehls was hit by a pitch, the first of six Monarchs hit by the Humboldt starter. Carson Liles followed with the first of six walks, and then Schmeidler was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out.
Caden Dinkel drove in the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly to right field, making it 1-0. A throwing error on the play allowed a second run to score, putting TMP up 2-0.
A second Cubs error allowed another TMP run to score, and then Jacob Seib followed with the Monarchs’ first hit, driving in a fourth run to make it 4-0.
After a scoreless second inning, TMP scored on an error following a dropped third strike to make it 5-0.
TMP’s Grant Nehls singled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Schmeidler added a sacrifice fly to put TMP up 8-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, TMP loaded the bases on a walk and back-to-back hit batters before Ian Nehls doubled to left field, scoring three runs to lift TMP to the 10-0 victory.
Ian Nehls finished 1 for 1 with three RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.
Carson Liles and Schmeidler each scored twice.
TMP improved to 28-1 and will take on Rossville in the state semifinals at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Rossville, the No. 4 seed, defeated No. 5 Marmaton Valley 10-0 on Monday.
The No. 7 seed St. Mary’s Colgan defeated No. 2 Spearville 17-0, and No. 3 Frankfort defeated No. 6 Southern Lyon County 13-7.