ALLEMAN – There’s nothing quite like hitting stride with the postseason just a few days down the road.

With the way South Hamilton is hitting the ball right now, it has to feel like no opponent is invincible.

The Hawks racked up their fifth double-digit hits performance in their last seven games on Wednesday, as they built a 10-1 lead after 41?2 innings and then held on to topple Heart of Iowa Conference rival North Polk, 10-7.

South Hamilton (14-15, 8-9 HOIC) has averaged 10.6 hits per outing in going 5-2 during the recent surge, and has reached 14 hits on three occasions.

“We made some really nice adjustments at the plate … we were patient and concentrated on hitting hard liners and hard ground balls,” South Hamilton head coach Laura Read said.

Lead-off hitter Kayla Lucas again showed her versatility with a 3-for-4 outing that included two doubles and three RBI. Ronnie Olson also went 3-for-4 with three runs driven in.

Alyssa Hegland blasted a double, while Ady Wintermote and Alissa Moss both chipped in a pair of singles. Wintermote collected one RBI, as did Kali Lucas on a base knock.

Eight of the nine batters slapped at least one hit.

South Hamilton led 4-0 after two innings and then added six runs in fifth to build an insurmountable lead.

Wintermote went the distance in the circle to secure the win. She allowed nine hits and five earned runs.

South Hamilton closed out the regular season last night at home against Nevada. Read’s club will spend the weekend preparing for Monday’s Class 2A Region 3 first-round game against Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in Jewell. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Monday’s winner will advance to the quarterfinal round on Wednesday where West Fork awaits. The contest will be played in Sheffield.