Mid-Prairie’s baseball path toward the 2A state tournament could include a River Valley Conference showdown against Anamosa.

But the thing is, the Golden Hawks and Blue Raiders haven’t played each other this season.

And that might make it a perfect District 10 final July 13, should both teams get to that game.

Despite being ranked among the Top 10 in 2A much of this season and getting a number two seed, the Golden Hawks will not play a home game in the postseason. Anamosa, the top seed in the district, will host the semifinal and final rounds of the district tournament. Both Mid-Prairie and Anamosa received byes for the opening round, so they won’t play until July 9.

The Golden Hawks are attempting to make it to the state tournament (July 22-26 in Carroll) for the second time in three years.

In Class 1A, opening-round battles July 6 will include a game between Southeast Iowa Super Conference North rivals Highland and Lone Tree. The Huskies, seeded fourth, and the Lions, seeded fifth, will meet in a District 12 quarterfinal at Sigourney. Highland drilled Lone Tree 20-8 on June 11 and they’ll meet again in a tournament preview at 5:30 p.m. July 1 at Highland.

On the other side of the District 12 bracket, Hillcrest Academy, seeded second, will host HLV at 7 p.m. July 6. The Ravens (12-3) have won 11 of 12 games against 1A competition, losing only to Louisa-Muscatine by one run back on June 4, and also to 2A schools Central Lee and Mediapolis.

Sigourney, ranked 10th in 1A, is the top seed.

State Champs Return

Several members of Mid-Prairie’s 2004 state championship baseball team returned to Wellman for an alumni game June 23, including All-Staters Erik Christensen and Sean Thornton, and pitcher Brent Yotty, who won the title game in 2004 plus nine other games.

Watching proudly from the spectator section was Brian Miller, who coached the Golden Hawks from 2000 to 2011 and is now an assistant coach at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids.

“I haven’t seen some of these guys in so many years,” Miller said. “It’s good to see them again.”

Miller’s return to Mid-Prairie was his first since the Golden Hawks’ ballpark underwent a renovation last year, most of which was financed by private donations. The alumni game was a fundraiser for the baseball program.

“I’m just super impressed with the facilities,” Miller said. “The community really supports this and was able to put this together for everybody. I think it’s just a tremendous thing they’ve got going here today.”

Miller said he remembers the days when Golden Hawk coaches and players would drag the infield with a tractor and “a board with nails in it.”

After the game, members of the ’04 team posed for a photo with other Golden Hawks alums and players on this year’s team. Former coach Andy Greiner helped announce and was a coach for the game. Current head coach, and Golden Hawk alum, Kyle Mullet played in the game.

LumberKing Freshman

Karson Grout, a 2024 Mid-Prairie graduate and a University of Iowa baseball commit, is the highest-hitting rising college freshman this summer with the Clinton LumberKings.

Grout is hitting .359 for the LumberKings and has driven in 10 runs.

The LumberKings play in the Prospect League, a summer baseball league for college players.

Grout played four summer seasons for the Golden Hawks, including as a rising high school freshman in 2020. His .457 batting average last year led the River Valley South and was No. 16 in the state.

Senior Run

Highland seniors Sarah Burton and Grace Prybil are finishing out their high school softball careers in impressive fashion this summer.

Burton, who missed most of track season due to a leg injury, is back at full speed. Her 35 stolen bases lead the SEISC North. She has been caught stealing just once. Burton also ranks second in the conference in runs scored with 41.

Prybil, a pitcher, leads the league with a 1.14 earned-run average and is number three in wins with 12.

Also leading the Huskies are seniors Madison Beeson and Payton Brun, who rank one-two in fielding. Brun is 14-for-14 in steals and Courtney Chalupa, another senior, is 7-for-7.

The Huskies, who have won six of their last seven games to clinch a winning season record (16-8), host Lone Tree on Monday. Dating back to 2006, Highland has had a winning record every year.

News columnist Paul Bowker can be reached at bowkerpaul1@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bowkerpaul