Survive and Advance. That’s the mantra for success in the playoffs. Mid-Prairie used that formula to take their first step in the post season eliminating Williamsburg 5-1 in the regional quarterfinals Tuesday night in Kalona. The Golden Hawks would have offensive chances all night against Raider pitcher Lindsay Schlabaugh but would be unable to capitalize on most, stranding 10 base runners on the night including bases loaded no one out situations in the second and six innings where no one scored. Mid-Prairie did break through in the fourth when Michelle Erwin cracked an opposite field RBI double scoring Amber Kral and Alex Rath. Emmie Leinen followed that up with a hit to drive in Erwin and the Golden Hawks led 3-0. Following the game Coach Justin Lutjen talked about those opportunities and the timely hits when they did come for Mid-Prairie.

“You know I think we were in the drivers seat all night long, I think we got the bases loaded three times,” Lutjen said, “We got a couple timely hits, I would have loved to have a couple more and really broken that game open, but it’s playoff time, a win’s a win, survive and advance and we’re moving on and playing Friday.”

Williamsburg would climb within 3-1 in the 6th on a Mackenzie Bigbee RBI single but the Golden Hawks scored two insurance runs in the 7th to put it out of reach on RBI hits by Hannah Miller and Olivia Lugar. Miller joined us on the post game show and talked about her at bat in the 7th.

“We’ve been practicing a lot on her throwing outside, so I was looking for that outside pitch, that was my go to pitch,” Miller said. “She threw the fast pitch that I wanted so I just took that.”

Lugar recorded the win for Mid-Prairie going all seven innings allowing just five hits and one run. Mid-Prairie is now 28-11 on the year and will be in regional semi final action Friday night in Kalona when they host Prairie City-Monroe who was a 12-4 winner over South Tama. KCII will have all of the action with pregame at 6:45 and first pitch at 7 live Friday on AM and FM KCII and KCIIradio.com.