BY CAYDEN SANDERS
The TMP Monarchs competed in this year’s state baseball tournament in Manhattan on Thursday against Girard High School. Girard took advantage of a fast start to knock off the Monarchs, 8-2.
Both teams battled wet field conditions, yet it was Girard and the arm of Trever Amersheck who had success early. Amersheckcut down the Monarch bats as he went the distance maxing out his pitch limit with 10 strikeouts in 6.66 innings of work and only giving up four hits.
On the other side, TMP’s Cayden Morgan had control issues throughout the game. Morgan gave up seven walks in three innings of work.
After the second inning, the Monarchs were behind 4-0. Girard capitalized on Morgan’s struggles as they loaded the bases by walks and then hit their runners in to score.
Girard scored a couple more runs throughout the game, but that is all the Trojans would need. The TMP bats woke up in the 7th for a late rally, but it was too late as the Trojans brought in another relief pitcher to slam the door on the Monarchs.
“I think we came too energized. We were swinging at pitches that were not ours to hit, which helped Amershek,” TMP Head Coach Aaron Breit said. “Cayden didn’t have control today, and it shows. He couldn’t find the strike zone with his pitches.”
Breit is appreciative of his senior class this year as they put in the work to get to state and said they were not expected to make it to Manhattan by the rest of the state but is glad his seniors got to go out on a high note making it to the state tournament.
“Watching this senior class grow from where they were as first-year students is very special,” he said. “I am glad that they were a part of the program while they were here at TMP.”
The Monarchs’ season comes to a close at state with a record of 14-6.