It wasn't their nights

A wet home diamond on June 24 meant Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn’s softball game with South O’Brien had to be played at Paullina. The Wolverines were not hospitable hosts, handing H-M-S a 16-6 loss.

South O’Brien set the tone with three runs in the first inning. After scoring four runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth, the Wolverines doubled their scoring output with eight runs in the sixth.

H-M-S scored twice in the first inning on a double by Eliza Tewes and added a run in the fifth on a groundout by Natalie Daggett. With the bases loaded in the sixth, Addy Sheeler was hit by a pitch, Tewes walked and Kinsey Schirmer singled to drive in the runners.

Tewes was 3-for-3 with a double, Schirmer hit three singles and Frankie Mohni had two hits, including a double. Gracie Knobloch also hit a double, and Cammy Wilson, Daggett and Sheeler each had one hit.

“The girls fought to the end but it wasn’t our night,” Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad admitted. “The bats were decent but not enough, leaving too many girls on base.”

Kamryn Ebel pitched 2-2/3 innings. She gave up seven runs and two hits, walked two and struck out four. Schirmer finished the game, allowing five hits, nine runs and four walks.

• More struggles against Jays

Gehlen Catholic pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of its scoring opportunities to defeat H-M-S, 10-0, on June 28 in Hartley.

The Jays’ offense started quietly with a run in the second inning. They ramped up the scoring in the second with four runs on four hits. Gehlen Catholic added five runs in the fifth inning.

The only hits for H-M-S were singles by Ebel, Mohni and Schirmer. All three were stranded at third base.

“We struggled from the beginning with batting and confidence. Our fielding errors got the best of our defense,” Bronstad said. “Gracie pitched a nice game and stayed consistent, but Gehlen was hitting the ball hard and our defense folded.”

Knobloch allowed 10 hits, walked three and struck out eight. Only six of the Jays’ runs were earned.

H-M-S fell to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in War Eagle Conference play.