Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Softball Social Media

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk softball team capped the long holiday weekend with a pair of River Valley Conference wins Monday, trouncing the Tipton Tigers in both of ends of a doubleheader in Kalona. Game one went Mid-Prairie’s way, 8-2. After Tipton scored once in the top of the first, the Hawks went to work, sending all nine to the plate, pounding out six hits to score five runs with Brena Jehle, Sophie Miller and Sydney Knebel all smacking doubles, and singles for Hannah Sellers, Madeline Schrader and Olivia Swartzentruber. Jehle, Miller, Sellers, Knebel and Schrader would all come around to score, Schrader drove in a pair in the frame and Miller and Sellers one each. The Hawks added on another in the fourth when Miller reached on an error and came home on Knebel’s double. In the fifth it was a two RBI double from Jehle that brought in Dakota Mitchell and Swartzentruber to extend the advantage to 8-2. Seven of the nine in the Mid-Prairie starting lineup scored a run and seven of the nine had at least one hit. That was more than enough for Knebel in the circle who struck out 13 hitters in recording the complete game win.

In the night cap it was more of the same as Mid-Prairie ended things after only three innings, 15-2. The Hawks started with fireworks, sending 13 hitters to the plate in a nine run, five hit first. Mitchell and Jehle each scored twice in the frame while Miller, Knebel, Schrader, Cadence Grout and Molly Yoder all touched home once. RBI hits belonged to Mitchell, Miller and Swartzentruber, while Schrader and Grout each drew bases loaded walks to drive in a run. In the second, another 12 Golden Hawks went to the plate. Mid-Prairie had nine more hits and six more runs as they chased Tipton starter Avery Calonder after only an inning and a third. Sellers, Knebel, Schrader, Swartzentruber, Morgyn Bender, and Yoder all scored with Jehle, Sellers, Knebel, Schrader, Grout and Yoder collecting hits and Knebel, Grout and Yoder RBI. All nine in the Mid-Prairie order scored a run and had at least one hit, seven of the nine had an RBI. The victory was the first varsity win in Grout’s career as she went three frames, allowing three hits, two runs, walking one and striking out one. After the game, Knebel and Jehle joined the KCII postgame show live to talk about their nights. Knebel started, “We were just looking to get good hits, score runners, line drives. It felt really cool to see the train keep going. As a pitcher it’s nice to get runs quick. Having this defense behind me makes me feel like a million bucks. I know if there’s a play, they are going to make it. Right now I like how our team is clicking. We always have someone picking someone else up.”

Jehle added, “We knew she was going to throw slow so we had to stay back. Getting the offense started early is very helpful. We can be more relaxed. I love playing defense behind Syd because we can rely on her. You know she’s going to do good every game. We’re always getting along no matter how we’re playing. We always pick each other up.”

With the sweep, the Golden Hawks improve to 4-1 on the season and host West Branch Wednesday in a doubleheader live on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com.