(Omitted from last week’s issue)
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn had to settle for a split of a varsity doubleheader against South O’Brien June 26 at Paullina. HMS won the first game 7-5, picking up a War Eagle Conference victory. Rain washed out the first attempt to play the game May 30 at Hartley. In the regularly scheduled road game for the Hawks, it was South O’Brien coming away with a 6-3 win.
HMS 7, South O’Brien 5
The Hawks built a 7-1 lead and withstood a late South O’Brien rally. The Wolverines scored a run in the top of the first but HMS answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The Hawks added a run in the third and scored twice more in the fourth. South O’Brien scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and two in the seventh.
Gracie Knobloch pitched the full seven innings, striking out 12. She allowed six hits and walked three. Four of the five runs were earned.
“Gracie pitched strong on the mound,” remarked HMS head coach Stephanie Bronstad. “Our bats were decent and our girls played good defense. We need to keep focusing on the bats as we get closer to tournament time!”
Playing as the home team, the Hawks overcame the 1-0 deficit with their four-run first. Kinsey Schirmer was hit by pitch and Frankie Mohni reached on a fielder’s choice as the Wolverines failed to get an out. Kamryn Ebel drew a walk and then Knobloch did likewise, forcing in a run. Abby Kunzman hit into a fielder’s choice but Mohni scored on the play. Delaney Murphy capped the inning’s scoring with a two-run single.
In the third, two walks and an error loaded the bases. Again it was Murphy delivering an RBI single. Schirmer led off the fourth with a base hit. An error helped prolong the inning and gave Alexis Grover the opportunity to knock in a run, which she did. Another error allowed the Hawks’ seventh and final run to score. Each team committed three errors.
S. O’Brien 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 – 5
HMS 4 0 1 2 0 0 x – 7
South O’Brien 6, HMS 3
The Hawks scored twice in the first inning but only once more in the game as the early advantage slipped away. South O’Brien came up with three runs in the third and then scored the go-ahead run in the fifth and two insurance runs in the sixth.
Kamryn Ebel pitched the six innings to absorb the loss. She allowed just four hits but walked nine batters and hit four. She also had three strikeouts. All six of the runs were earned. HMS played error-free ball in the field. The Wolverines were guilty of three errors.
Murphy was 3-for-3 hitting with two RBI’s. Abby Otto had the other RBI. Morgan Grooters went 2-for-3. Schirmer, Mohni and Kunzman each had one hit. The runs were scored by Schirmer, Ebel and Knobloch.
HMS 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 3
S. O’Brien 0 0 3 0 1 2 x – 6