The No. 6 ranked Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk baseball team traveled to Lowden Tuesday and beat the weather and the Knights in a 16-5, mercy rule shortened contest. After a 45 minute rain delay during pregame warm-ups, the Golden Hawk offense didn’t miss a beat, posting four runs in the first inning with Keegan Gingerich, Brad Tornow, Karson Grout and Kayden Reinier all touching home plate. Grout and Monte Slabaugh supplied the RBI. The Golden Hawks would match that output with four more in the second when Gingerich, Tornow, Aidan Rath and Chris Miller all came home. RBI in the frame went to Tornow, and Rath drove in three with a homer to make it 8-0. It was a five spot in the fourth for the Golden Hawks, highlighted by Tornow’s first career homer, a two-run shot to the opposite field. Will Cavanagh added a two RBI hit in the frame to make it 13-2. In the fifth, Mid-Prairie put up three more, Rath homered for the second time, a solo shot, and Tornow added an RBI triple. After the game, Mid-Prairie head coach Andy Greiner talked about the win. “It feels good to have everyone throw in their two-cents and contribute in the win. Good solid effort, played clean baseball and got it done. Really proud of the guys.”

Seven of the nine Golden Hawk starters recorded a hit at the plate, seven of nine also recorded a run scored. Mid-Prairie was led at the plate by Tornow who went three for three with four driven in. Rath was three for four with a pair of homers and four driven in. With all of that offense, it was more than enough for Tornow to move to 5-0 for the year on the hill. The Mid-Prairie ace went four innings, gave up four hits, three earned runs, walked four and struck out six. With the victory, Mid-Prairie improves to 11-3 on the year and 9-1 in the River Valley. They will be back in action tonight at Anamosa. Should the Golden Hawks beat the Blue Raiders on the road, they would clinch a share of the overall River Valley Conference title, their first conference championship since 2000. You can hear all of the action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee pregame show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7p.m.