A late comeback fell short for the No. 6 in Class 2A Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk baseball team, as they dropped their first game of the year 8-5 to Class 4A Ottumwa Thursday in Wellman. The Bulldogs built their advantage with two runs in the second and a four spot in the fourth to lead 6-0. The Mid-Prairie comeback began in the fifth where the Hawks put up four runs to climb within 6-4, only to see Ottumwa get two back in the sixth to lead 8-4. Mid-Prairie scored one in the bottom half to get to the final score.

The Hawks managed eight total hits, all singles, and drew five walks, but couldn’t overcome nine strikeouts and four errors. Brady Weber and Dylan Henry each had two hits, Henry had an RBI. Tatem Telfer drove in two. Weber, Bowen Burmeister, Brock Harland, Landry Gingerich and Luke Traetow each scored once. Telfer took the loss on the hill, working three and a third, allowing one hit, three runs, walking seven and striking out seven. Gingerich worked the final three and two thirds, giving up four hits, five runs, none earned and striking out five. The loss drops Mid-Prairie to 4-1 on the year ahead of a Tuesday trip to Tipton. Ottumwa improves to 3-3.