Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn built a 7-0 lead through three innings and went on to defeat South O’Brien 11-4 May 31 at Paullina. The Hawks tacked on four runs late to secure the War Eagle Conference victory.
“I was really happy with how we bounced back from a rough end to the week before,” shared HMS head coach Jeremy Gloden. “Jordan (Ortega) did a nice job on the mound and the defense was there to back him up. We had a few hiccups in the last inning, but we were able to secure the win in the end. Jacob Cates did a nice job leading our offense. He was hitting the ball hard and driving in runs. We also took advantage of some walks and errors. This allowed us to run the bases and put extra pressure on their defense. Nice team win!”
Ortega went 6-2/3 innings to pick up the win. Of the three runs he gave up, only one was earned. He struck out eight batters to go along with just two hits and three walks allowed. Tyson Tessum tossed the final 2/3 of an inning. He gave up an unearned run but no hits while walking three.
Cates went 3-for-4 at the plate. He doubled in the first and then stroked a two-run single in the second. His second double of the game plated the Hawks’ seventh-inning run. The catcher scored twice and his courtesy runner in the first, Jack Mastbergen, also scored a run.
Trenton Vollink singled and walked twice, scoring each time. Ethan Diehm twice reached base on an error. He scored both times. His third-inning single drove in a run. Keith DeBoer delivered an RBI single in the second as did Keaton Graves. Nick Bronstad notched an RBI base hit in the sixth, driving in Ortega, who had singled. HMS totaled nine hits.
The Hawks stranded eight runners. South O’Brien left four on base.
HMS 2 4 1 0 0 3 1 – 11
S. O’Brien 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 – 4