By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

When the Thomas More Prep-Marian baseball team first played Larned on April 8, the Monarchs lost 4-2 in extra innings and were run-ruled 13-1. The game continued TMP-Marian's offensive problems that led to a 2-6 start.

Since then, the Monarchs have played improved baseball, including a 4-4 mark in their last two doubleheaders. That includes two run-rule victories in a road doubleheader against Scott City on April 29.

The new look TMP-Marian team (6-10) is the No. 5 seed in the Holcomb Class 3A regional. They will take on No. 4 Larned (8-8) for the third time this season when the two meet in the first round on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in Garden City. It will be the first full game for the Monarchs in two weeks. The winner will face Lakin (19-0) in the sub-state semifinals Wednesday.

"Even the outs that were making the last couple of games, were hard hit balls, line drives, hard grounders, versus what we were doing before, either striking out or weak groundballs," head coach Brian Schumacher said Friday. "I think as far as offensively, we are doing a much better job. I am just anxious to see how they respond.

"As a group, they are more relaxed, they are having fun," he added. "It was frustrating to see earlier."

Senior right-hander David Klaus (3-1), the Monarchs' ace all season, will pitch against Larned. The Monarchs are 4-2 when Klaus pitches, 2-8 when he doesn't. Klaus tossed seven innings, the first six scoreless in the 4-2, 10-inning loss to Larned earlier this season.

"He can keep it so if we have a good (offensive) inning or two, we can win it and that is what Dave has done all season long," Schumacher said. "He has done a nice job, he is a good solid pitcher and he wants the ball. He wants to go out and throw it and that is what I like about him. He wants to pitch in that type of a game."

Klaus will support an offense that started slowly this season. The Monarchs scored 21 runs in their first eight games, including three runs against Larned.

After the Larned doubleheader, the Monarchs tallied 49 runs in their next six games, including 31 against Scott City, the last completed games TMP-Marian has played this spring. Thursday, the Monarchs were rained out of two contests against Colby. However, they did score two runs in the first two innings before the cancellation, and Klaus homered.

"We hit the ball fairly well," Schumacher said. "We left a couple guys on, but just a little more encouraging that we are hitting the ball."

Several players that struggled in the first part of the season, such as junior Carl Conway and senior Zach Holub, have hit much better in the offensive resurgence. Holub has also thrown out several runners at the plate.

"Some people at the league meeting said how impressed they were with his arm out in the outfield," Schumacher said.

Junior Ethan Schmidt and senior catcher Kelton Stoecklein have hit well. Schmidt could hit in the leadoff spot in place of junior Ryan Post. Post, who tore his ACL in football and returned earlier this season, injured his knee again against Scott City.

"That is going to hurt us a lot," Schumacher said. "He has been a good leadoff for us,"

The Monarchs are 6-10 overall, but the record came against a strong schedule and features a drastic home/road split. TMP-Marian lost twice each to 5A Great Bend (17-3), 4A Russell (17-1) and 3A Salina Sacred-Heart (12-2). All three times are No. 1 seeds in their respective sub-states.

"We have some good ballplayers," Schumacher said. "I know that our record doesn't indicate that, but we have played some good competition this season."

TMP-Marian also has played much better on the road than at home. At TMP Field, the Monarchs were 2-8, including the two losses to Larned. However, they played six of its final eight games on the road and achieved the 4-4 mark. At home, the Monarchs scored 23 runs in 10 games, while on the road, they tallied 47 runs in six games.

"At home, we didn't play all that well and we go on the road and it just seems like we have done a little better," he said. "We played four of our first five doubleheaders on the road, and just as far as gelling and getting their cuts in, it just took them a little while to get in a groove."