Unable to score many runs for most of the month of June, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn baseball team had its biggest offensive night of the season during a 15-2 victory over West Bend-Mallard. The non-conference game was played on June 22 at Gilmore City.

The Hawks finished with 12 hits, led by Jacob Cates who was 3-for-4 with four runs batted in; Keaton Graves, who was 3-for-4; Dawson Schiphoff, who was 2-for-3 with four RBI; and Samuel Heyn, who was 2-for-3.

"The bats finally woke up and came alive big-time. It was a lot of fun to watch," said Hawk coach Jeremy Gloden.

Schiphoff singled and Jordan Ortega was safe on an error to begin the game. After Schiphoff scored on a passed ball, Heyn hit a two-run homer.

The home run derby was just getting started. Cates hit a three-run homer in the second inning, and Heyn added an RBI single. Schiphoff then hit a grand slam in the third inning, followed by a run-scoring double by Cates, an RBI single by Graves and a sacrifice fly by Nick Bronstad. The final run scored on a wild pitch.

Heyn was the winning pitcher. He scattered five hits, walked one and struck out nine.

The Wolverines scored a run in the second inning and another in the fourth.

After losing eight games in a row, the result against WB-M was welcome.

"The guys have been working hard and it was nice to see that work paying off," Gloden said.

• vs. Harris-Lake Park

H-M-S took the early lead and hung on to defeat Harris-Lake Park, 6-4, on June 23 in Hartley.

For the second straight game, a home run by Samuel Heyn gave H-M-S the lead. His three-run shot in the first inning came after singles by Dawson Schiphoff and Jordan Ortega.

The Hawks' lead was threatened as H-LP scored a run in the second inning and another in the third. But the Hawks retired the next 12 batters to maintain the one-run margin.

A double by Ortega and a single by Jacob Cates in the fifth inning extended the Hawks' lead to 5-2. They added a run in the sixth as Trenton Vollink walked and later scored on an error.

H-LP had three hits in the seventh inning and scored twice. In between the Hawks turned a double play, and then retired the final hitter on an infield pop-up to seal the win.

At the plate, Ortega was 3-for-4, Schiphoff was 2-for-2 with two walks, and Keith DeBoer, Heyn and Cates were all 1-for-3.

Ortega went the distance on the mound, allowing nine hits and recording eight strikeouts.

• vs. MMCRU

MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS

Keith DeBoer hustles to first base during the Hawks' game with Harris-Lake Park. He contributed a hit and scored a run in the 6-4 win.

The Hawks' week ended on a down note, as they were held to just one hit in a 9-0 loss to visiting MMCRU on June 25.

H-M-S's only hit was a single by Nick Bronstad. MMCRU pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts in the game.

The Royals scored a run in the first inning, three runs in the second and four runs in the fourth. They scored their final run in the sixth inning.

Losing pitcher Ben Haack allowed eight runs and six hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out two. Dawson Schiphoff gave up a run and four hits while striking out three.

H-M-S (5-10, 2-6) finishes the regular season at GT/RA (Ruthven) on July 6 and at Sibley-Ocheyedan on July 8.