By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

For many years, Maddie Holub believed she could play college softball. Alicia Hammeke didn't realize a college career was possible until last spring.

On Thursday, the two Thomas More Prep-Marian senior standouts each signed a national letter of intent to play college softball at Fort Hays State University on Thursday in the early signing period. Holub, a three-time all-state player, will pitch and play shortstop.

"The coaches are awesome," Holub said. "The girls are just really nice. It just seemed like the perfect fit for me to go."

Hammeke, first team all-state last spring, will likely play the outfield or first base. The duo have been key players on the last two TMP-Marian state championships, the first team in Monarch history to win back-to-back state titles. The Monarchs are 48-3 the past two seasons.

"I really like the coaches a lot," Hammeke said. "They seem to do a very good job. When I went on my visit, they showed me a lot about their program and that impressed me. The school in general is a very good school and I am really happy to stay here local."

Holub, who first entered Monarch head girls' basketball and softball coach Alan Billinger pitching clinics in middle school, emerged as a potential college prospect before high school.

"One year when Maddie did a tremendous job in the pitching in our clinic and she was throwing a very good rise ball and drop ball and she had a screwball," Billinger said. "I knew right then and there that if she could gain some strength and throw a little bit harder, she was going to make a very good pitcher, a prospect for college."

Holub, whose dad, John Holub, is tied for first on the Tiger baseball single season winning percentage list, wanted to continue her career after TMP-Marian.

"I knew it was what I wanted to do in college, so I have been training myself to try to get to this level," she said.

Holub, first team all-state the last two years, posted a 0.08 ERA in 2007 and a 0.47 mark last spring. She holds a career batting average of .482, including a .438 average at the 2008 state tournament. Holub has pitched and been the starting shortstop all three years, positions she will play at Fort Hays.

"I am really happy about that," Holub said. "That was a big factor."

Billinger compared Holub - who received nearly a full ride - to Melissa Beyer, a former Billinger pupil and Hays High graduate. Beyer is in the top five in multiple single season and career pitching statistics at Fort Hays, including the all-time strikeouts leader (376).

"Those two are very comparable as far as pitchers are concerned," Billinger said.

Hammeke, who hit .414 as a sophomore, made a change in her batting stance that helped her earn first team all-state. Hammeke was constantly moving in the batters' box and didn't stay still. This past year, she was more steady in the box.

"She was going to have to make some changes, adjustments in the way since batted," Billinger said. "She was much quicker getting to the ball and she did a much better job in the state tournament for us."

Hammeke raised her average to .439 last spring, including a .500 mark at the 2008 state tournament. In the first round game against Silver Lake, Holub struck out 21 while Hammeke, who had fought an ankle injury, drove in all four runs in a 4-1 win.

"That was huge," Hammeke said of the change. "I have Coach Billinger to thank for that, otherwise I would probably still be messing around and not going to college. That changed everything."

After the state tournament, Hammeke first started to get recruited. Several junior colleges, including Cowley, Pratt and Butler, looked at her, along with Fort Hays.

"I was actually really surprised," Hammeke said.

"I didn't think I was going to get recruited and I did. I am very thankful for that."

In the fall, Hammeke took her visit to the Tiger program.

"I knew then that I was probably going to go to Fort Hays," she said.

Hammeke is third member of her family with current ties to Tiger athletics. Her father, Curtis Hammeke, is the longtime athletic director. Andy Hammeke, Alicia's brother, is a redshirt freshman pitcher for the baseball team.

The two are the first two in the Billinger era to sign with Fort Hays for softball, and the third and fourth, overall.