Marcial plays through tragedy

RENO - You have to admire the mental toughness and courage of Nevada shortstop Robert Marcial.

The Pack senior received tragic news Tuesday night when he found out that his 15-year-old cousin, Jeremy Rourke, had been beaten to death with a baseball bat after a Pony League baseball game in Southern California.

Rourke, according to reports in the Antelope Valley Press in Lancaster, had a dispute with a 13-year-old player at the snack bar. According to newspaper reports, Rourke had teased the younger player after his team had beaten the youngster's first-place team. The younger player allegedly took a bat out of his bag and hit Rourke in the knees. While Rourke was bent over, the fatal blow to the head was delivered. Rourke died two hours later.

Many players would have packed it in, but Marcial endured the hurt and anguish Wednesday and Thursday, and turned in one of his best defensive efforts of the season in Friday's 10-8 win over San Jose State, handling seven chances without an error.

"He did a great job," Nevada coach Gary Powers said. "Anytime there is a family tragedy, you don't know how a person will react. He handled it like a man."

Marcial credited his teammates for helping him deal with the tragedy.

"It was tough to grasp (when I found out)," Marcial said. "I had headaches all week. I've been battling the flu. I'm still kind of in shock."

Marcial left late Friday night for Southern California to be with his family and will miss the remainder of the series. He is expected to return Monday.

"Hopefully when I come back we'll have a couple of more wins," Marcial said.

That's Marcial, always thinking about the team.

MADRID ON A ROLL

Ever since Powers moved Carlos Madrid from the No. 2 spot to No. 9, the former Reed High star has been a tough out.

He went 3 for 4 against the Spartans, including the game-winning homer in the seventh.

"I get to see more fastballs than I did batting No. 2," Madrid said. "Coach Powers did a great thing for me."

WHO IS AT SHORT

Powers wouldn't say who would replace Marcial at short the next two days.

"We have a couple of options we are thinking about," Powers said.

The possibilities are numerous. Matt Bowman played there at Dayton. Eric Newman played short last year. Other possibilities are Brett Hayes, Madrid or even David Ciarlo.