Getting to double digits

Runs came in bunches for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn baseball team last week to push its regular season win total to double digits for the first time since 2014.

In a 10-0 win over Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, the Hawks scored three runs in three straight innings on July 7 at Ruthven.

The offense got off to a modest start in the opening inning when Jordan Ortega was hit by a pitch and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Ben Haack. Run-scoring singles in the second inning by Samuel Heyn and Ortega, and an error increased H-M-S's lead to 4-0.

Ortega drove in the first run of the third inning with a single. Heyn was hit by a pitch to drive in the second run and a wild pitch allowed Dawson Schiphoff to score. One swing of the bat by Schiphoff gave H-M-S three more runs in the fourth.

"We continued to hit the ball well and the defense continued to be very solid," said Hawk coach Jeremy Gloden. "All three phases of the game (pitching, defense, timely hitting) were working together and it was fun to see."

Ortega was 2-for-3 at the plate, Nick Bronstad was 1-for-2 with two walks, and Jacob Cates, Tyson Tessum, Heyn and Schiphoff were all 1-for-3.

Heyn was the winning pitcher, giving up two hits and striking out three. Ortega allowed one hit in 1-2/3 innings, and Schiphoff struck out the only batter he faced.

• vs. Storm Lake St. Mary's

H-M-S only scored in two innings against Storm Lake St. Mary's, but that was enough to close out a 14-4 win on July 5 in Hartley.

St. Mary's scored a run in the second inning but the Hawks quickly answered. Jacob Cates drove in two runs with a single, Dawson Schiphoff hit a two-run triple and Samuel Heyn and Trenton Vollink each singled in a run.

During an eight-run third inning, Jordan Ortega and Heyn each singled in two runs, Nick Bronstad had two RBI singles and Tyson Tessum singled in another run.

The Hawks' 13 hits included three by Heyn, two each by Bronstad, Cates, Schiphoff and Vollink, and one by Ortega and Tessum.

The Panthers scored once in the third inning and two runs in the fourth.

Winning pitcher Ben Haack did not allow a hit, walked two and struck out five. Schiphoff pitched two hitless innings.

• vs. Sibley-Ocheyedan

The offense dried up on the Hawks during a 10-0 loss to Sibley-Ocheyedan on July 8.

H-M-S's only baserunner was Tyson Tessum who drew a walk in the sixth inning.

"It was a very frustrating night on offense," Gloden noted. "It was not the way we wanted to end the regular season."

The Generals took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, scored three runs in the fourth and put five more runs on the scoreboard in the fifth. S-O ended the game with a run in the sixth.

Jacob Cates was the losing pitcher. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out five. Jordan Ortega started but only faced three batters. He allowed two hits. Dawson Schiphoff gave up five hits and three runs.

After starting the season 3-9, the Hawks won seven of their final nine regular season games to finish with a 10-11 record.