Eli Schlenger hit a three-run homer to break a 2-2 tie and MMCRU went on to defeat Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 9-3 in a Class 1A District 2 tournament game played July 6 at Marcus. The Hawks finish the season with a record of 3-18.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. HMS moved on top with a two-run second. Jacob Cates drew a walk and advanced to second on an error. Blake Meendering then lashed a double to score Cates. Walks to Hunter Daggett and Aiden Bush loaded the bases. The Hawks were able to get one more home as Jack Mastbergen’s base hit drove in Meendering with the go-ahead run.

MMCRU tied the game in the third on a walk and an RBI single. An error preceded the home run that gave the Royals a 5-2 lead. A hit batter, an error and a passed ball resulted in an MMCRU run in the fourth. An inning later, a passed ball which followed a pair of singles allowed both runners to score and the Royals led 8-2 after five.
Cates blasted a solo home run in the sixth. MMCRU regained its six-run margin with two singles in the bottom of the inning.
Lawton Schiphoff and Aiden Bush each had a base hit, bringing the Hawks’ hit total to five. Bush also walked twice while Cates and Daggett each received the one free pass. Bush stole two bases and courtesy runner Aidan Espeland swiped one.
Starting pitcher Cates went 4-2/3 innings. He allowed eight runs on seven hits. Half of the runs were earned. He struck out eight batters, walked four and hit one. Mastbergen tossed 1-1/3 innings in relief, yielding an earned run on two hits. HMS had just the two errors.
Playing their last game for the Hawks were seniors Cates and Espeland.
HMS 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 – 3
MMCRU 1 0 4 1 2 1 x – 9