South Hamilton pitcher Carter Hewitt heads to the plate during a Class 2A district game against Prairie City-Monroe last month in State Center. Hewitt, a junior, and classmate Brock Galetich were both named to the all-Heart of Iowa Conference first team recently by the league’s coaches. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WEBSTER CITY — Following a 9-8 season, including 7-7 in the Heart of Iowa Conference, and a trip to the Class 2A district final round, the South Hamilton baseball team received five all-league nods from the HOIC coaches.

Juniors Brock Galetich and Carter Hewitt were named to the first team, while sophomore Tycin Barkema and senior Quinton Grove earned second-team accolades. Sophomore Elijah Balderas was an honorable mention selection.

Class 3A state runner-up Gilbert led the first team with three selections. North Polk, Roland-Story and Prairie City-Monroe all joined South Hamilton with two.

Galetich made the top team on the infield. The Hawks’ shortstop the majority of the season, he led the team at the plate with a .375 batting average and a .446 on base percentage. His 21 hits topped the team and he also scored 11 runs.

Hewitt earned his place as a utility player, as his versatility at the plate, in the field and on the mound helped South Hamilton contend in the league.

Hewitt, who played first base when he wasn’t on the mound, hit .358, and his .469 OBP led the team. He also anchored the Hawks in extra base hits with seven, and he drove in 10 runs.

On the bump, the southpaw struck out 26 batters in 252⁄3 innings of work.

Barkema, who played both second base and shortstop, hit at a .327 clip with three extra base hits, a team-high 14 runs scored and five RBIs.

Grove, the Hawks’ left fielder, also hit .327 with 12 runs scored and nine RBIs.

Grove’s season was highlighted by his two masterful pitching performances against Roland-Story, including in an upset victory in a district semifinal. He went 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA on the season.

Balderas, who caught and pitched, hit .277 with four doubles and nine RBIs. He was 4-1 with a 3.07 ERA and 21 strikeouts on the mound.

All-HOIC Baseball Teams

First Team

Pitcher — Nolan Faber, Roland-Story; Easton Johnson, Gilbert.

Catcher — Caleb Duinink, PCM.

Infield — Brock Galetich, South Hamilton; Ryan Fausch, North Polk; Nick Chasey, Gilbert; Andrew Mitchell, PCM.

Outfield — Tucker Hanson, Gilbert; Logan Engebretson, North Polk; Logan Carney, Saydel.

Utility — Carter Hewitt, South Hamilton; Alex Berends, Roland-Story; Durant VanDyke, PCM.

Second Team

Pitcher — Joe Husak, North Polk; Austin Pyles, Saydel.

Catcher — Keaton Fry, Nevada.

Infield — Tycin Barkema, South Hamilton; Mason Hicks, Saydel; Jack Bunkers, North Polk; Dane Owens, PCM; Steven Berends, Roland-Story.

Outfield — Quinton Grove, South Hamilton; Tyler Teeples, Greene County; JD Elefson, North Polk.

Utility — Ross Uthe, Nevada; Andrew Weig, North Polk; AJ Twedt, Roland-Story.

Honorable Mention (of note)

South Hamilton — Elijah Balderas.