IDA GROVE, Ia. — The South Hamilton Hawks softball team returned to action on Friday and Saturday, as they made the trip to Northwest Iowa to compete in the OABCIG Tournament in Ida Grove. The Hawks were joined by the host Falcons, as well as Carroll, Collins-Maxwell, MVAOCOU, Newell-Fonda, Roland-Story and Storm Lake.
The Hawks opened with the host Falcons on Friday, as OABCIG was first on the board in the first, as South Hamilton answered with a Jill Hesse RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. South Hamilton took a brief lead in the 3rd on an Adey Trask RBI double and an error, but OABCIG answered with 2 runs off a Hawk error in the 3rd to tie the game at 3-3. South Hamilton rallied with 2 runs in the 4th on an Ellie Beaune RBI single and an Emma Lammers RBI single to take a 5-3 lead, but OABCIG answered with 3 runs in the 5th to take a 6-5 lead. South Hamilton tied the game in the 6th off a dropped 3rd strike, before Emma Ammerman scored on a wild pitch in the 7th as the Hawks would hold on for an 8-7 win.
Jill Hesse picked up the win in relief, allowing no runs on 1 hit and struck out 2 in an inning of work. Adey Trask went 1-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, as Ellie Beaune went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
South Hamilton was slated to take on Roland-Story in the semifinals, but weather caused the Norsemen to move on based on a prior win over the Hawks, as Storm Lake awaited the Hawks in the consolation game. A scoreless first saw South Hamilton break the tie in the 2nd on an Emma Ammerman sac fly as the Hawks lead 1-0. However, Storm Lake would score a run in the 2nd and a run in the 3rd, and that would be all the offense needed as the Hawks fell 2-1 in a pitchers duel.
Jill Hesse was charged with the loss, going 3 innings and allowing 2 runs (0 earned) on 4 hits and struck out 1. Emma Ammerman drove in the lone Hawks run, as Claire Hewitt went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
South Hamilton softball returns to action on Monday, when they travel to Des Moines to take on the Saydel Eagles in Heart of Iowa Conference action at Saydel High School, with first pitch at 7:30 PM.