They never gave up

Harris-Lake Park endured the agony of watching Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn rally from a three-run deficit to earn a 4-3 win on June 21.

The Wolves scored single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings to build a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, H-M-S did not have a hit until the fifth inning. The Hawks had two more hits in the sixth but could not get on the scoreboard.

The Hawks were down to their final out in the home half of the seventh, with Lindsey Van Es at first base. Alexis Grover was hit by a pitch and Morgan Grooters was safe on a bunt single to load the bases. Van Es scored on a wild pitch and Kamryn Ebel hit a single to drive in pinch-runner Addy Sheeler with the tying run. Kinsey Schirmer followed with a hit into short right field and Ebel was able to score the winning run.

"Our bats didn't come alive like we hoped, but the girls never gave up like we have been preaching to them all season," said Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad.

Schirmer finished with two hits, and Gracie Knobloch, Ebel, Grooters and Grover each had one.

Knobloch was the winning pitcher. She allowed five hits, walked three and struck out 12.

"A win is a win," Bronstad noted. "H-LP is really starting to develop a nice team."

• vs. Okoboji

H-M-S took on Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire in the first round of the Okoboji tournament on June 24. The Titans turned a close game into a 17-0 win.

GT/RA took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and maintained it through four innings. The Titans then scored a run in the fifth, four more runs in the sixth and added 10 runs in the seventh to earn the big win.

Pitcher Gracie Knobloch allowed 15 hits, walked two and struck out 10 in the loss. Only three of GT/RA's runs were earned as H-M-S was charged with eight errors.

At the plate, Abby Otto, Ebel, Grooters and Knobloch had hits for H-M-S.

The consolation game between H-M-S and Okoboji was not played as the start of the tournament had been delayed due to weather.

H-M-S (11-10, 4-4) enters regional play on July 5 in Hartley. Pairings may be found elsewhere in the Sentinel-News.