Dax Hammett’s 3-hitter, RBI helps Cardinals to 5-3A title

HASKELL -- Faced with all of the adversity from the season combined into one game Friday, the Harmony Grove Cardinals held strong before capturing a share of the 5-3A Conference title in baseball.

The Cardinals split the championship with

Genoa Centra -- after beating the Dragons 1-0 at home in the conference regular-season finale.

The drama-filled battle was set up after the Cardinals dropped a heartbreaker the game before, slipping to Fouke to fall one game out of first in the standings -- leading to the dance with Genoa Central.

Both pitchers would steal the show for each club as the battle ended in two complete games.

Cardinals ace Dax Hammett continued to impress, having already put together an unforgettable season prior to Friday.

Hammett earned the shutout victory after allowing three hits, no runs and five walks. The strikeout leader would sit down nine via K in the win.

Hammett would also contribute to Harmony Grove’s lone run, singling home Peyton Potter in the third with two outs.

The Dragons looked to have some life in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with an error and two walks before Harmony Grove slammed the door shut.

Genoa would threaten again in the seventh with two on and two out, but could not muster anything to answer the Cardinals.

Harmony Grove would bash out eight hits in the win, led by Hammett, Potter and Aiden

Hughes all with two hits each.

The Cardinals will have the No. 1 seed in the 5-3A District Tournament and are now 14-4 overall and finishes 6-1 in conference play.

Harmony Grove added some work Tuesday in nonconference action ahead of the postseason, hosting St. Joseph.

See an upcoming issue of The Saline Courier for full details.