Hammerberg delivers

MARION - Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel had modest expectation for Max Hammerberg's first varsity start.

Hammerberg provided a pleasant surprise and a win.

The junior left-hander threw a complete game, helping Class 3A ninth-ranked Xavier to a 4-2 victory over the Indians in a non-conference contest last night at Marion High School.

Hammerberg allowed five hits and struck three, more than doubling the number of innings pitched and strikeouts from two previous relief appearances.

'I was hoping to go as far as I could,” Hammerberg said. 'My arm was feeling good. I just wanted to get some quick innings and that is what happened early.”

He fought butterflies at the start, but they weren't as severe as the first time he took the mound this season. Confidence grew as the game progressed, focusing on keeping his pitches low.

'As the game went on, I got more comfortable,” Hammerberg said. 'I picked my spots more.”

Schemmel said he hoped for four solid innings and was impressed when he realized Hammerberg had thrown just 52 pitches in a little more than five innings. Hammerberg proved he can add to the saints pitching depth, cracking the team's top five.

'He's learning to pitch varsity baseball,” Schemmel said. 'The way he pitched tonight he will get more opportunities.”

Hammerberg is sure he can produce for the Saints on a regular basis. Give him the ball and he will put the defense to work.

'I think I can go out and get a win anytime,” Hammerberg said. 'I just need to keep the ball low and let fielders make the play.”

Hammerberg kept the Indians off balance at the plate, getting key outs when needed. He worked out of jams in the fourth and sixth, giving up just one run in each. He has strong control, walking just one batter and closing with six straight outs.

'We've been looking all season for a guy to get that third out,” Max really did a nice job of bearing down and executing. I think his best breaking balls were to the last couple batters.”

The Saints (8-5) scored all they needed in the first, taking advantage of some wildness from Marion starter Zack Miller. Hunter Baldus drove in Bryce Grimm on an RBI groundout for the first run. Nick Drahozal had a two-run single, scoring Adam Pick and Logan Clarahan.

'That was key,” Schemmel said about Drahozal's run-scoring hit. 'If he doesn't come up with that, then who knows, it could have still been a tied ballgame.”

Drahozal delivered, but that wasn't the case for the entire lineup. The Saints stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded twice.

'I thought we should have had seven, eight or nine runs,” Schemmel said. 'We have to do better than that.”

Despite a rough start, Miller and reliever Owen Carstensen kept Marion in the game. Miller struggled in the opening frame, but didn't allow a run and just two hits the next 3 1/3 innings. He struck out three in the fourth, including two straight after Xavier loaded the bases.

He has improved from not being able to complete varsity inning last season.

'Tonight, I think he was trying to think too much and be a little too fine instead of throwing his pitches and let the defense work,” said Marion Coach Steve fish, noting he gained confidence after three scoreless innings against Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the season opener. 'After the first inning, he did a good job.”

Marion (6-4) battled back, but the early deficit was too deep of a hole to climb out of, especially against a quality team, according to Fish.

'We fought hard,” he said. 'I was happy with the effort.”

The Indians got on the scoreboard in the fourth and adding another in the sixth. Bobby Vanderlind ripped an opposite-field double to left, bringing in Gage Kray for Marion's first run. Maverick Miller's sacrifice fly drove in Christian Stekl and cut the deficit to two.

Kray had two hits and Stekl reached base in all three at-bats to lead Marion. Stekl is one of just four seniors, but Kray is a sophomore, serving as an example of a possibly bright future in front of the Indians.

'We really like our young kids,” Fish said. 'I'm really looking forward to a couple of these guys, if they continue to build.”

Xavier will host 4A seventh-ranked Iowa City West, and Marion will host DeWitt Central on Friday night.

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