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Grady does his part against No. 7 Comets, Hawks’ bats stay silent

SH starter limits NP to just one earned run in complete-game effort on mound

ALLEMAN — The frustration came from the outcome, not from the way the South Hamilton baseball team played here Monday night.

The Hawks stood toe-to-toe with seventh-ranked (Class 3A) North Polk in a Heart of Iowa Conference showdown, but a break here and there went the Comets way as they snuck past South Hamilton, 4-1.

“It was a very frustrating night because we played right with them,” South Hamilton head coach Kyle Galetich said. “We played well and we played them closer than 4-1, in my mind. But it just felt like it wasn’t our night.”

League-leading North Polk (15-5, 7-1 HOIC) received what Galetich thought was a favorable call in the second that led to two runs and a 2-1 lead. Galetich thought the Hawks had turned an inning-ending double play, but were only given one out and, right on cue, the Comets’ Sam Kvidera laced a two-run single moments later.

South Hamilton (6-11, 3-8 HOIC) scored its only run in the top of the second on a double steal that brought CJ Hewitt to the dish.

The Hawks managed just four hits — all singles by Hewitt, DJ Klonglan, Mateo Balderas and Cole Berg.

“We had opportunities and it’s kind of been that way all year where we just need that one hit to get us through, but we don’t get that one hit,” Galetich said.

Garrett Grady worked six strong innings on the mound for the Hawks. He limited North Polk to just seven singles and one earned run. He struck out three and walked two.

“I was really pleased with how Garrett threw,” Galetich said. “That’s probably his best outing in two years. He located the ball well and he threw his off-speed stuff well.”

Kvidera connected for two hits to lead North Polk.

South Hamilton was in State Center to face West Marshall last night.

North Polk 4, South Hamilton 1

Monday at Alleman

S. Ham 010 000 0 — 1 4 2

N. Polk 021 100 x — 4 7 2

Garrett Grady and Zeke Balderas. Jake Johnson, Joe Husak (7) and Sam Kvidera. W — Johnson. L — Grady. 2B — NP: Colby Cupp. Multiple hits — NP: Kvidera. RBI — NP: Kvidera (2), Colten Parkins.

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