But like this? That surprised even Galetich.

Facing arguably one of the top pitchers in the Heart of Iowa Conference in Prairie City-Monroe ace Derek Brown, the Hawks unleashed a 14-hit assault in a 17-4 rout of the Mustangs.

One year after tossing a 3-hitter in a lopsided victory over South Hamilton, Brown got the hook during a seven-run South Hamilton third inning on Monday. And the Hawks (1-0, 1-0 HOIC) were just getting started.

“I’ll be honest, I was a little concerned about seeing a guy that throws as hard as (Brown) does, but we did a great job of working him,” Galetich said. “We made him work and then he kind of fell apart.”

Carter Hewitt struck out five and grabbed the win on the mound for South Hamilton against Prairie City-Monroe on Monday. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

Seven South Hamilton players smacked at least one hit and all nine in the lineup drove in at least one run. Cade Flaugh led the way with a 4 for 4 performance that included a double and three RBIs. Tycin Barkema went 3 for 6 with a triple and RBI, and Brock Galetich added a pair of singles and two RBIs.

Carter Hewitt bashed a double, while Lane Swenson, Elijah Balderas and Brandyn Feighner all singled.

Swenson, Quinton Grove and Freddie Lewis all drove in two runs. Hewitt, Balderas and Feighner plated one each.

PCM (0-1, 0-1 HOIC) ran five pitchers out to the mound, but nothing worked. South Hamilton scored in each of the final five innings and capped the marathon contest with a six-spot in the seventh.

“It was a good first game,” Kyle Galetich said. “I was a little surprised. I knew we were a good hitting team, but I didn’t know how much our younger guys had really improved. They’ve made huge improvements.”

Hewitt picked up the win on the mound. The lanky southpaw worked 21⁄3 innings and allowed just one hit to go along with five strikeouts. Brock Galetich took over in the third and went the remainder of the way, as he gave up just three hits and fanned eight.

South Hamilton will head to Jefferson this evening to take on Greene County.

South Hamilton 17, PCM 4

Monday at Prairie City

SH 007 112 6 — 17 14 0

PCM 001 003 0 — 4 6 1

Carter Hewitt, Brock Galetich (3) and Elijah Balderas. Derek Brown, Kolten Johnson (3), Durant Van Dyke (4), Gabe Steenhoek (6), Andrew Mitchell (7). WP — Hewitt. LP — Brown. Multiple hits — SH: Cade Flaugh (4), Tycin Barkema (3), Galetich. 2B — SH: Hewitt, Flaugh. 3B — SH: Barkema. RBI — SH: Flaugh (3), Galetich (2), Quinton Grove (2), Lane Swenson (2), Freddie Lewis (2), Barkema, Hewitt, Elijah Balderas, Brandyn Feighner.