Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Softball Social Media

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk softball team fell in the first round of the Class 3A regional tournament last week at Chariton 4-0. The first inning was too much for the Hawks to overcome as Chariton charged out of the gate with a pair of runs on a hit and three costly Golden Hawk errors. The Chargers would add on single runs in the third and sixth innings for insurance. At the plate, the Hawks were not without their own chances, putting the lead-off batter on in each of the first four innings, and finishing with six hits, but they were unable to come up with a hit with runners in scoring position on the night, as Chariton starter Lucy Stratton navigated the traffic. Following the game, Golden Hawk head coach Amy Hartsock-Williams talked about the determining factors in the contest.

Hartsock-Williams said, “We put ourselves in a hole. We didn’t play this field well and had some miscues. There were some nerves. Unfortunately, they showed up in that first inning and we let them jump ahead. We kept hitting it at them, but credit to our first couple girls for getting themselves on. They did a good job executing bunts and moving those runners but, we just couldn’t get that breakthrough hit. Dakota (Mitchell) has been doing it for us all year. She’s been our most consistent hitter, our consistent player on defense, and tonight, she did what she always does. Olivia (Swartzentruber) has been coming on strong in the last half of the season. Her batting average keeps climbing and climbing. She did it tonight too, putting the ball in play hard for us.”

The Chargers out hit the Hawks 8-6. Chariton was led by Sydney Cain on a three hit day with two runs and an RBI in the second spot with Bailey McGee adding two hits and a run. Stratton went all seven in the circle, tossing the six hit, complete game shut out while striking out a pair. Dakota Mitchell and Olivia Swartzentruber led Mid-Prairie at the plate with two hits each. Kadence Grout and Morgyn Bender each had one. Grout took the loss in the circle, going six innings, surrendering eight hits, four runs, two earned, three walks and striking out three. Chariton moved to 15-9 with the win. The Golden Hawks ended their season at 7-24, saying goodbye to lone senior Gabi Robertson.