A short-lived winning streak
Hawks drop 2 straight after win over WB-M
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MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS
Cadence Klein collects a hit in the 9-5 loss to MMCRU last Friday night in Hartley
A road trip to West Bend on June 22 proved to be a successful one for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. Thanks to two big scoring innings, the Hawk softball team defeated West Bend-Mallard, 12-1.
"The girls played a great game with no errors," said Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad. "They came out hitting the ball and executing their defense."
A three-run double by Gracie Knobloch capped a five-run first inning. Elly Klein and Abby Kunzman also drove in a run. Taya Mason singled in the second inning and scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 6-0.
The Hawks doubled their run total in the fifth inning. Knobloch hit another three-run double, Elle Mastbergen and Jessica Riedemann each singled in a run, and Cadence Klein drove in a run with a sacrifice.
Hitting leaders were Darby Mastbergen, 2-for-2; Knobloch, 2-for-3 with six RBI; Klein, 2-for-3; Kunzman and Mason, 1-for-2; and Riedemann, 1-for-3.
Knobloch also earned the pitching win. She allowed no hits, walked eight and struck out three. The Wolverines scored their run in the fifth inning.
"Gracie did what she needed to do on the mound," Bronstad noted.
• vs. Harris-Lake Park
Unlike the first meeting with Harris-Lake Park, which H-M-S won in convincing fashion, the Wolves gained their revenge with a 9-4 win on June 23 in Hartley. The Hawks' brief two-game winning streak ended as well.
H-LP scored in four of the final five innings to earn their first victory of the season.
"Credit to H-LP, they came to play and hit the ball well," Bronstad said. "We hit early but couldn't find the gaps later in the game."
H-M-S scored first, as Jessica Riedemann singled and scored on a groundout by Darby Mastbergen. In the next inning, Eliza Tewes reached base on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch.
The Wolves' first run came in the third inning and they tied the score in the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, H-M-S regained the lead when Taya Mason walked and stole home.
H-LP broke the game open with three runs in the fifth inning. They added a run in the sixth and strung three hits together to score three times in the seventh.
Gracie Knobloch had three hits, including a double, and Elle Mastbergen, Elly Klein and Riedemann each had one.
"It was a good game, but our hitting just wasn't on," Bronstad said.
Mason was the losing pitcher. She gave up 11 hits, walked three and struck out five. Knobloch walked two and struck out two in relief.
• vs. MMCRU
The Hawks fell behind early and could not close the gap during a 9-5 loss to visiting MMCRU on June 25.
MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS
Catcher Elle Mastbergen comes up ready to throw to first base in an attempt to pick off an MMCRU runner.
The Royals' hits found the gaps in the defense during a three-run first inning, and then built a commanding lead with six runs in the fourth inning.
H-M-S answered with two runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth. The Hawks scored their final run in the sixth.
Darby Mastbergen was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI; Elly Klein was 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Gracie Knobloch hit a triple and drove in two runs; and Cadence Klein, Taya Mason, Elle Mastbergen, Jessica Riedemann and Eliza Tewes each had one hit.
MMCRU recorded 14 hits off Hawk pitcher Gracie Knobloch, who walked four and struck out seven.
H-M-S (4-13, 2-6) had its first game at the Okoboji tournament rained out on Saturday. The consolation and championship games scheduled to follow were cancelled.
