HASKELL — Baseball is ingrained in boys from an early age. For Harmony Grove senior Dax Hammett, the diamond life began at the age of 4.
“I’ve never dropped it. It has always been my main sport and my focus for what I am trying to do for my future,” Hammett said.
Hammett serves as the Cardinals reliable ace on the mound with stats that would light up any resume.
For his career to this point, Hammett has struck out 290 hitters in 133.1 innings of work. Coupled with his 0.579 earned run average and 11 earned runs allowed, the senior has parlayed his performance into a college roster position.
“It all starts with preparation,” Hammett said. “You have to practice so when you get in situations you know you’ve been there before. It also comes with experience. I’ve been playing the game for a long time and been in these situations many times. At the end of the day it comes down to the confidence in yourself to do what you do and you can do and believing in yourself.”
Before hitting his 1,000 point on the basketball court last week, Hammett was overcome with celebration from his fellow students and teammates when he signed his letter of intent to attend Texas Tech for baseball.
Hammett made the announcement last fall before making it official.
While the landing spot ended in Lubbock, Texas, the journey started at a camp at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
“I got a call from ULM and didn’t know much about them at the time,” Hammett said. “They invited me out to a camp and liked me and then offered me. I went on an official visit and knew ULM was a place I could see myself going in and playing and developing as a player.”
However, a coaching staff change forced Hammett’s course to alter.
The coach that recruited me left and they brought in a whole new squad,” Hammett said. “I didn’t know how it would look.”
Hammett decided to decommit from ULM.
From there he would go on to pitch in a tournament in Texas with recruiters in attendance.
“He texted me a week later and said he would like for me to be a Red Raider and offered me everything,” Hammett said. “I knew it was an offer I couldn’t decline.”
Hammett takes his love for pitching from Los Angeles Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw.
“I like controlling the game and everyone putting their trust in me to go out there and pitch the best I can,” Hammett said. “You can lose it for everyone or win it for everybody. I love being on the mound.”
Hammett said once he got to the high school level he knew he was as good as anyone in the league and could likely go far with his baseball career.
With a year left before shipping south, Hammett has high expectations for the 2026 Cardinals — win a state title.
“I am excited to play with my friends and coaches one last time,” Hammett said. “They have become a close family. It is sad coming in, but I am excited because this team is going to be something special. If we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot we are going to go far. My expectation is to win a state championship.”
Hammett and the Cardinals kick off their season March 2 with a road trip to Camden Harmony Grove. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.