Resuming their suspended Class 2A District 13 quarterfinal against Heart of Iowa Conference rival Prairie City-Monroe, the Hawks rallied from a 5-4 deficit to prevail, 8-7, and advance to last night’s semifinal round against Roland-Story in Story City.

It was South Hamilton’s third victory of the season over PCM. It might not have been as lopsided as the 17-4 and 10-0 beatings, but it was more satisfying considering it extended the season.

“I’m really happy with how we bounced back,” South Hamilton head coach Kyle Galetich said, noting PCM led 5-4 when the contest was suspended in the bottom of the third inning due to rain on Saturday. “We still didn’t play real clean (on Monday) and we had some adversity, but the guys did a nice job of limiting the damage.”

South Hamilton (8-6) jumped in front to stay with a three-run fifth inning, keyed by a two-RBI single off the bat of Quinton Grove. The senior was pivotal throughout the contest, as he cranked out three hits and scored a pair of runs.

South Hamilton No. 9 hitter Brandyn Feighner lays down a bunt during the Hawks 8-7 win over PCM in a Class 2A District 13 quarterfinal on Monday in State Center. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

PCM (7-9) closed to within 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth. South Hamilton added what turned out to be a necessary insurance run in the sixth when Tycin Barkema raced home from third on a Mustang throwing error. PCM made five errors in the contest.

South Hamilton finished with 11 hits. Carter Hewitt and Lane Swenson both went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Cade Flaugh, Freddie Lewis, Elijah Balderas and Brandyn Feighner added one hit each.

Dane Owens paced PCM with three singles. Durant Van Dyke plated two runs with his first-inning double back on Saturday.

Balderas took over on the bump when the game resumed and earned the win. The sophomore struck out six and allowed just four hits and two runs over 41⁄3 innings of work.

“He really pounded the zone and forced them to put the ball in play,” Galetich said. “That’s what we asked him to do.”

South Hamilton 8, PCM 7

Class 2A District 13 Quarterfinal

Monday at State Center

SH 310 031 0 — 8 11 2

PCM 230 010 1 — 7 8 5

Carter Hewitt, Elijah Balderas (3) and Balderas, Brandyn Feighner. Beau Webb, Andrew Mitchell (4), Derek Brown (6) and Caleb Duinick. WP — Balderas. LP — Mitchell. Multiple hits — SH: Quinton Grove (3), Hewitt, Lane Swenson; PCM: Dane Owens (3). 2B — PCM: Duinick, Durant Van Dyke. RBI — SH: Grove (2), Swenson (2), Hewitt; PCM: Van Dyke (2), Webb, Duinick, Owens, Mitchell, Sage Burns.