Hernandez, Hampshire knock off Larkin

When Hampshire pitcher Shane Hernandez woke up Monday morning for the Whip-Purs’ matinee with Larkin, he had good reason to believe it wouldn’t be such a fun day to be on the mound.

With the wind blowing straight-in on a blustery, chilly morning with a game-time temperature of 38 degrees, pitching, hitting and just about everything else wasn’t going to be much fun when you compare to the recent weather that’s been nearly flawless.

Somehow, Hernandez had the heat and found it fun to pitch, as the junior used the elements to his advantage, striking out 4 and walking only 1 while allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 6 innings of work to lead the Whip-Purs to an 8-2 win over Larkin in Elgin.

Hernandez (1-0), who efficiently got the first-pitch strike across 10 times, settled down with a perfect third, fourth and fifth via the groundball after giving up 2 runs on 2 hits in the second inning.

“I knew the wind was going to be a factor,” Hernandez said. “If they hit the ball up it was going to be in my favor but I kept the ball down and the infield was slow but getting groundballs were key today.”

Larkin (1-2) wanted to play small ball but behind the groundball, good defense and the first-pitch strike setting the tone, it was tough for the Royals to capitalize.

“Especially on a cold day today, (Shane) was coming in throwing strikes,” Hampshire skipper John Sarna said. “I know his first-pitch strike ratio had to be pretty high and his WHIP had to be very low and he had one walk so that was key.”

While Hampshire’s pitching was intact, the Whip-Purs (2-0-1) executed their small ballgame to perfection. The best example came in the third when Piotr Barnas (1-for-2, 2 RBI) reached on an error to start the inning. Following Barnas, Luke Wians (2-for-4, RBI) and Sean O’Shea had back-to-back bunts, O’Shea’s a squeeze that scored Hampshire’s first run. Hampshire then tied the game on an error after Michael Laramie grounded out.

In the sixth, the game turned when Royals pitcher Austin Royse (6 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 3 ER) ran into some trouble when Brandon Wescher led off the inning with a single. After a fly out, a basehit and a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases that was argued by Royals coach Matt Esterino, Barnas ripped a 2-run double to right-center.

“I was pretty sure he was going fastball and I was ready for it and I got a hold of it,” Barnas said. “It was important to get those runs in.”

Wians’ infield single after Barnas’ double made it 5-2. Hampshire tacked on 3 more runs in the seventh. Larkin had a threat going in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back singles but a fielder’s choice ended the inning.

“Give credit to them, they hit the ball and made us pay for it after a couple of mistakes,” Esterino said. “(Hernandez) was around the plate. He does a good job of mixing it up. And with a day like this, no free passes, make everyone earn it, he pitched well with the conditions.”

Dylan Ganow and Royse doubled home Larkin’s runs in the second. Royse (0-2) suffered the loss for Larkin.