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Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Andrew Hamlett posts complete-game victory in split with Dubuque Wahlert before special ceremony
Saints honor father of former player between games of Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader
Jun. 3, 2023 9:40 am, Updated: Jun. 3, 2023 10:07 am
CEDAR RAPIDS - Location. Location. Location.
Cedar Rapids Xavier left-hander Andrew Hamlett is at his best when placing pitches, instead of trying to throw it by batters.
On a night highlight by a ceremony to honor the late former Cedar Rapids Kernel and Xavier baseball parent Tony Moeder, Hamlett hit his spots and stymied Dubuque Wahlert for a 3-1 victory in the opener of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader split Friday at Ken Charipar Field. Wahlert rebounded for a 10-1 victory in the nightcap.
Hamlett improved to 2-0 this season, tossing the complete-game four-hitter.
“I was just thinking about throwing strikes,” Hamlett said. “I have a great defense behind me. As long as I hit the zone, they’ll make the plays when (batters) put it in play.”
He weathered a brief and early storm as rain clouds threatened but never interrupted play. Wahlert’s Ryan Brosius led off the game with a double followed by a Will Specht single.
With runners on the corners and no outs, Hamlett induced a 6-4-3 double play. Brosius scored and the Golden Eagles only managed two more hits the rest of the way.
“He pitched well,” Xavier Coach Dan Halter said. “I’m proud of the way he competed in Game 1. He was efficient with his pitch count. He threw strikes, so he pitched a good game.”
Hamlett struck out four and walked just one. Despite three hit batsmen, he only threw 87 total pitches. Wahlert didn’t have a base runner reach third base after the first inning.
“I just try to locate and location over velocity can beat a lot of things,” Hamlett said. “Coach always stresses ‘next play.’ Even after a bad first pitch or hit, it’s always about the next play.”
Xavier tallied one run in the second and two in the fourth to provide Hamlett support. Carlos Baez-Perez drove in Cooper Schenk on back-to-back singles to tie it, 1-1.
Baez-Perez added a sacrifice fly to score Preston Lang to cap the scoring and lead the Saints in RBIs.
“The sac fly he had was big,” Halter said of Baez-Perez. “For him to step up and do a job, that’s what we keep tryign to preach. Just do your job and not try to do more than the game asks of you.”
Last season, Hamlett was 5-0 with a 1.27 earned-run average. He entered this season with some big expectations, following the seniors that previously mentored him. Hamlett has made his biggest impact on the mound.
“We were hoping he’d be at the top of the rotation and a middle of the order hitter,” Halter said. “He’s been doing a good job pitching. He’s competing out there and giving us a chance to win every time he starts.”
SAINTS HONOR MOEDER
Xavier honored the late Tony Moeder Friday between games of the doubleheader with Wahlert. Moeder, 51, died in April after a lsix-year battle with frontotemporal dementia.
Moeder was a former minor-league baseball player and a member of the Kernels 1994 Midwest League Championship team. His son, Kyle, was a played football and basketball and key member of Xavier’s 2019 Class 3A state title team. His daughter, Mary Kate, was a leader on the Saints’ 2022 state champion girls’ basketball team and soccer standout.
The celebration included a tribute video and the announcement that the brdige leading to Ken Charipar Field will be dedicated to Moeder.
Kyle, Mary Kate, his wife, Kathy, Tony’s parents were among family that stood between home and the pitcher’s mound. Fans and friends were on the field and filled the stands. Members of the 2019 baseball team were also in attendance.
The moment will be cherished forever by the Moeders, according to Mary Kate.
“The outpouring of support today is a testament to the wonderful community of Xavier and such genuine people who have supported us in every step of our journey,” Mary Kate said. “It was a reminder that our family has so much to be grateful for as we have never felt alone. ”Team Tone“ has continued to rally behind us and make us feel so loved. Words truly cannot express our gratitude for the unwavering love, generosity, and support that we have continued to receive.”
Mary Kate also noted that the dedication means everything to the family. She said three things that brought her dad the most pride and joy were baseball, his family and Xavier.
"Being able to bring all of those elements together to keep his memory alive is a true blessing,“ Mary Kate said. ”One of his favorite things was seeing Kyle and I compete, especially as Xavier Saints. He truly was our biggest fan.
“And thinking about how proud he was to have sent us to a school as special as Xavier brings me so much gratitude. My family and I are feeling overwhelmingly grateful and blessed to have this done in my dad’s honor, and we are confident that he is shining down from heaven so happy and thankful.”
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