Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn staged a dramatic rally in the bottom of the seventh to stun Harris-Lake Park 4-3 June 21 at Hartley. HMS trailed 3-0 before tallying four times in the inning – all with two outs. The Hawks had only three hits entering the seventh but equaled that in their final turn at bat.
“A win is a win,” remarked Hawk head coach Stephanie Bronstad. “HLP is really starting to develop a nice team. Our bats didn’t come alive like we hoped but the girls never gave up like we have been preaching to them all season. Gracie had a nice night on the mound. It’s a slow week here at HMS and it isn’t helping the momentum but we are going to focus at practice and get ready for our last week and come strong into tournaments.”
The HMS seventh began when Frankie Mohni was hit by a pitch. With one out she was erased on a fielder’s choice of the bat of Delaney Murphy. With Lindsey Van Es on as a pinch runner Alexis Grover was hit by a pitch. Abby Sheeler replaced Grover at first base. A bunt single by Morgan Grooters loaded the bases. A wild pitch brought Van Es home with the first Hawk run. Kamryn Ebel singled to drive in Sheeler and an error on the center fielder allowed Grooters to score the tying run. Kinsey Schirmer then delivered the walk-off single with Ebel scoring the game-winner.
Grover singled in the fifth inning for the first HMS hit. Schirmer and Gracie Knobloch each had a hit in the sixth frame with no result on the scoreboard. Each team left five runners on base.
Knobloch struck out 12 in going the distance. The Wolves three earned runs came on five hits. Knobloch walked three batters. There was only one error committed by each team.
HLP 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 – 3
HMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 – 4