Hawks unable to rally from early deficit in Regional tourney loss to Sibley-Ocheyedan
A big inning by the opposition put Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in a hole too deep to dig out of. Sibley-Ocheyedan sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning and scored seven runs in what became an 11-2 win over the Hawks in a Class 2A Region 1 quarterfinal game played July 6 at Ocheyedan. HMS, which had last played one week earlier, ended the season with a record of 10-14. The game was the tourney opener for both teams.
Already ahead 2-0, the Generals saw their first five batters of the second inning reach base safely. That prompted a pitching move by the Hawks from Gracie Knobloch to Kamryn Ebel. Knobloch’s line showed seven runs on five hits with two strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter. Six of the runs were earned. Ebel finished out the game, allowing four earned runs over the five innings. She yielded five hits, hit four batters and struck out two.
Knobloch scored a first-inning run for HMS. She singled and then moved all the way around the bases when a base hit by Bailey VerHelst was misplayed by the left fielder. The Hawks added their final run in the fourth. VerHelst hit a leadoff double and was replaced on the bases by Morgan Grooters. Abby Kunzman laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Grooters to third. Eliza Tewes followed with an RBI double.
Tewes also recorded a single in the second inning and went 2-for-3 at the plate. That mark was equaled by VerHelst. Knobloch’s base hit was part of her 1-for-3 night. There were no other hits for HMS and no other baserunners. The Generals’ Alayna Wingate issued no walks and hit no batters while striking out 11. Each team committed one error.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Hawks. “We struggled on the mound with both pitchers and hitting,” commented Hawk head coach Stephanie Bronstad. “Not playing for a week I feel did not help with the momentum we had going last week.”
Bronstad also took a glance back at the season that was. “Overall, we had a great season. Going from three wins last year to 10 with a young team is impressive. We are working to build our softball program and it takes time. This is one of the best defensive teams (assistant coach) Barb (Haag) and I have seen in years with HMS softball. The girls have improved and will continue to get better.”
HMS loses one player to graduation. VerHelst made the move from Clay Central-Everly as a sophomore in 2020. “Bailey is our only senior this year,” noted Bronstad. “She came to the program from CCE and she rounded out to be a great team player. She never complains, does what is asked of her, and gives her all. She will be greatly missed.” Peering ahead, Bronstad added, “We are looking forward to the off-season and putting the work in to improve.”
HMS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 2
S-O 2 7 1 0 1 0 x – 11