Runs start to come

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's baseball team scored more runs in two of its games last week than it did during the previous five. But opposing teams also scored plenty of runs to keep H-M-S from getting a win.

The Hawks fell short, 6-5, at South O'Brien on May 28. They scored three runs in the seventh inning to make it a one-run game and had the bases loaded, but the Wolverines got out of the jam to earn the win.

South O'Brien scored a run in the opening inning and the Hawks answered with two runs in the second. Four runs in the second inning and another run in the third gave the Wolverines a 6-2 advantage.

The Hawks finished with 11 hits, including three by Blake Meendering, two by Grant Kunzman, a double by Brody Meendering, and singles by Aiden Bush, Hunter Daggett, Jack Mastbergen, Ricky Smith and Dominic Tripp.

Daggett was charged with the pitching loss. He allowed six hits and five runs, and struck out four in two innings. Mastbergen allowed a run on one hit, and struck out 10.

• Steady scoring lifts Tigers

Fourteen hits were not enough for H-M-S against Trinity Christian on May 29. The Tigers scored in every inning to earn the 11-8 win at Hull.

Jacob Cates was 4-for-4 with a double; Blake Meendering had another three-hit night, including a double; Kunzman had two hits; Brody Meendering hit a double; Smith and Tripp each had one hit and two runs batted in; and Aidan Espeland and Daggett (two RBI) each had one hit.

H-M-S kept pace in the early innings, scoring a run in the first and tying the score with two runs in the second. After scoring three runs in their first time at the plate, the Tigers added single runs in the second and third innings.

A four-run fourth inning increased Trinity Christian's advantage to 9-3. H-M-S answered with five runs in the fifth to narrow the margin to one, but the Tigers added insurance runs in the final innings to seal the win.

Tripp pitched 3-2/3 innings, allowing six hits, nine runs and four walks. Kunzman gave up five hits and two runs while striking out four.

• Fall to Braves

The Hawks' offense cooled off during a 15-0 loss on June 1 at Cherokee.

The Braves started the scoring with a run in the first inning. After scoring twice in the next inning, Cherokee added eight runs in the third and four in the fourth.

H-M-S's only hits were singles by Mastbergen and Smith.

Kunzman was charged with the pitching loss. He allowed three hits and seven runs (three earned), and walked five. Daggett gave up three runs and four walks, and Mykle Meyers allowed four runs on one hit, and struck out two.

The Hawks (1-7, 0-2) host George-Little Rock on June 7, Remsen St. Mary's (1A No. 4) on June 10 and Emmetsburg on June 11. They also play at Gehlen Catholic on June 12.

The JV/V games with Gehlen Catholic on May 31 have been postponed to June 28.