Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn scored early and then relied on pitching and defense to top South O’Brien 5-3 June 27 at Hartley. HMS scored all of its runs in the first two innings. The Wolverines were shut out over the final four frames.
“It was a well-played ball game for the most part,” said Hawk head coach Jeremy Gloden. “I was very happy with how we responded after a rough top of the first. We were able to take advantage of some miscues. Jordan (Ortega) pitched very well and the defense made a lot of good plays behind him. I was a good win to start the week.”
A two-out error, the only one for HMS, opened the door for a pair of unearned Wolverine runs in the first. The situation was repeated in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Jordan Ortega reached base on an error. He moved to third on a single by Jacob Cates. Tanner Tesch and Nick Bronstad followed with back-to-back RBI singles.
Errors contributed to three Hawk tallies in the second. A miscue put Evan Eilers aboard to start the inning. With one out, Trenton Vollink also reached base courtesy of an error. Ortega delivered a two-out, two run double. He was able to score on an error that put Cates aboard.
South O’Brien picked up a run on two hits in the third but it proved to be a last gasp. HMS got singles from Vollink and Jonny Ortiz in the fourth inning and from Cates in the fifth. None of them led to runs but the Hawks already had all of those that they needed. HMS left five runners on base while the Wolverines stranded seven.
Ortega needed no bullpen help in notching the win. He allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked three. Only the third-inning run was earned.
S. O’Brien 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 3
HMS 2 3 0 0 0 0 x – 5