Late comeback salvages split

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn needed a late rally in the softball game to salvage a split with Cherokee on Saturday, June 4.

On the softball diamond, H-M-S and Cherokee each scored a run in the first inning. The Braves added two runs in the third and four in the fourth to build a 7-1 lead.

The Hawks began the comeback with three runs in the fifth and tied the score with three more in the seventh to force an extra inning. H-M-S scored twice in the eighth and limited Cherokee to one run to escape with the 9-8 win.

Abby Kunzman led H-M-S with four hits, including a double; Abby Otto and Kinsey Schirmer each had three hits and two runs batted in; Gracie Knobloch had three hits and an RBI; Bailey VerHelst hit a home run and drove in three runs; and Kamryn Ebel hit a double.

Ebel pitched four innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. Knobloch allowed three hits and one unearned run in the final four innings. She walked two and struck out four.

• Braves score often in first inning

Cherokee outscored Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in a big way during the first inning of the baseball game, setting the stage for their 13-1 win on June 4 at Cherokee.

The Hawks scored first, as Trenton Vollink led off the game with a walk and scored on a passed ball. Cherokee quickly responded, sending 14 batters to the plate in their half of the first inning and scoring nine runs.

The Braves added a run in the second inning, two in the third and another in the fourth to close out the game.

Singles by Bradley Van Beek and Evan Eilers in the fifth inning were the only hits for H-M-S.

Tanner Tesch was the starting and losing pitcher. He gave up two hits and three earned runs while walking five. Trenton Vollink gave up three hits and one earned run, and struck out two in 2-2/3 innings. Eilers pitched one inning, allowing a run and one hit.