HEATING UP | News, Sports, Jobs - The Freeman Journal
OWEN DUNS OF SOUTH HAMILTON connects for one of his four hits at Waterloo Bucks Stadium. (DFJ photo by Angela Hewitt)
After dropping seven straight games, the South Hamilton baseball team has returned to form and has been enjoying a little bit of a resurgence. Save for a 7-0 loss against Saydel on June 14, the Hawks have pieced together four wins in five games.
Starting their week with a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference clash with Nevada on Monday at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, the Hawks' offense kicked into high gear with a 21-10 victory. This past Tuesday, the Hawks defeated West Hancock with a 16-7 final score at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex in Jewell.
Against the Cubs, the Hawks started fast and finished strong, thanks to stellar performances from junior Owen Duns and sophomore Braden Young. Duns went a perfect 4-of-4 with five RBIs, while Young came close to a cycle with a triple, double, single while driving in four teammates.
Senior Landen Skartvedt also picked up five walks and three stolen bags over the course of the game.
In their home game against the Eagles, the Hawks built up an 8-1 lead by the fourth inning, and outpaced West Hancock 8-6 over the final three innings.
Thanks to those victories on the diamond, the Hawks improved to 3-6 within the HOIAC and 8-10 overall.
This past Wednesday, the Hawks went back to work by hosting Roland-Story for a HOIAC tilt at the MPAC. Results from the matchup between South High and the Norsemen will be posted in an upcoming edition of the Daily Freeman-Journal.
South High will take a few days to rest and recover, before bringing in No. 8-ranked (Class 2A) West Marshall for a HOIAC showdown on June 26 in Jewell.
After paying tribute to the late Lisa Brinkmeyer VanDeventer, Hubbard-Radcliffe legend and administrator for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Hawks plated five runs in the top of the first. Following some back and forth from both clubs, the game was tied at 7-7 going into the third frame.
The Cubs picked up a run in the bottom of the third to attain a 8-7 lead, before South High replied by plating two in the top of the fourth to regain the lead at 9-8. The Hawks and Cubs would eventually tie again at 10-10, before 11 runs in the top of the seventh from South High sealed the victory.
Along with Duns, Young and Skartvedt, junior Tjerdan Johnson chipped in with two base hits and three RBIs, followed by senior Carter Balvanz's two hits and two RBIs. Freshman Kolby Hodnefield racked up four stolen bases, while junior Prestin Van De Pol contributed nicely with two RBIs.
Sophomore Landon Sogard and senior Landon Grove also collected hits, while Sogard and junior Noah Gunderson had one stolen base each. Young and junior Landon Greufe each collected one stolen base from the Cubs, as well.
Grove reeled in the win on the mound, striking out two Nevada batters and allowing just one hit and one run in two innings.
Sogard did a bit of heavy lifting for South Hamilton, fanning four Cubs in 106 pitches.
Stats from the Hawks' victory over West Hancock were not available as of press time.
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