Early surge, late slump mark softball season

The 2023 softball season got off to a strong start for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, with wins in five of the team's first six games. But the Hawks' record fell to around .500, and with losses in five of their last six games, finished at 12-14 overall.

Twelve wins are an improvement of two compared to the 2022 season. H-M-S also finished with two more wins in War Eagle Conference play, posting a 5-5 record.

Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad is looking to see more growth in the program in the coming months.

"Defensively we have been a strong team this season and will focus on continuing to improve," she said. "We are looking forward to getting back into the swing of things with fall ball, winter workouts and focusing on filling our senior spots."

Three seniors conclude their high school careers: Morgan Grooters, Cadence Klein and Abby Kunzman.

The following are cumulative stats for the 2023 season.

• Batting

Hits: Gracie Knobloch 32, Kinsey Schirmer 25, Delaney Murphy 24, Eliza Tewes 17, Kamryn Ebel 16, Abby Kunzman 12, Morgan Grooters, Cadence Klein, Frankie Mohni, Abby Otto 10, Alexis Grover 8, Addison Sheeler 7.

Doubles: Knobloch 6, Kunzman, Murphy, Schirmer 2, Ebel, Tewes 1.

Triples: Knobloch 1.

Home Runs: Knobloch 1.

Runs Batted In: Knobloch 19, Murphy 15, Tewes 12, Schirmer 9, Kunzman 7, Ebel, Sheeler 6, Otto 4, Grover, Mohni 3, Grooters, Klein 2.

Sacrifices: Schirmer 2, Ebel, Grover, Kunzman, Otto 1.

Runs: Knobloch 21, Schirmer 19, Otto 14, Kunzman 12, Ebel, Grooters, Sheeler 9, Mohni 8, Klein, Murphy, Tewes 4, Grover, Lindsey Van Es 1.

Walks: Knobloch 20, Kunzman 9, Ebel, Mohni, Sheeler 8, Schirmer 7, Grooters, Otto 6, Murphy 4, Tewes 3, Grover 1.

Hit by Pitch: Sheeler 4, Grooters 3, Grover, Knobloch, Kunzman, Otto, Schirmer 2, Ebel, Klein, Mohni, Murphy 1.

Steals: Otto 7, Tewes 2, Ebel, Knobloch, Schirmer 1.

Batting Average: Knobloch .478, Murphy .453, Tewes .395, Grover .333, Schirmer .309, Klein .286, Ebel .246, Mohni .204, Grooters .200, Kunzman .176, Sheeler .163, Otto .135.

• Pitching

Ebel: 7 games pitched, 6 games started, 22.2 innings, 101 opponents at-bats, .337 batting average against, 34 hits, 46 runs, 34 earned runs, 31 walks, 16 hit batters, 10 strikeouts, 10.50 earned run average, 2.87 walks/hits per inning pitched.

Knobloch: GP 18, GS 17, 119.0 inn., 500 OAB, .240 BAA, 120 hits, 102 runs, 56 ER, 42 BB, 4 HB, 175 K, 3.29 ERA, 1.36 WHIP.

Schirmer: GP 6, GS 3, 21.1 innings, 105 OAB, .343 BAA, 36 hits, 43 runs, 34 ER, 28 BB, 8 HB, 11 K, 11.16 ERA, 3.00 WHIP.

(Note: individual win/loss records are not included in final stats.)

• Team

Batting: 658 at bats, 115 runs, 181 hits, 165 singles, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 88 runs batted in, 6 sacrifices, 80 walks, 21 hit by pitch, 20 reached on error, 177 strikeouts, .275 batting average, .372 on base percentage, .304 slugging percentage.

Base running: 12 stolen bases, 14 attempts, 200 total bases.

Fielding: 171 assists, 485 putouts, 71 errors, 727 chances, .902 fielding pct.

Pitching: 163 innings, 706 OAB, .269 BAA, 190 hits, 191 runs, 124 earned runs, 101 walks, 28 hit batters, 196 strikeouts, 5.33 ERA. 1.79 WHIP.