Mid-Prairie’s win streak stretched to nine games before they played a 3A ranked opponent in Solon. They almost won with a seventh inning rally, just losing their grasp in a 7-6 loss after an error allowed Solon to gain the walk-off win.

Mid-Prairie followed up the loss to Solon with an 8-2 victory over Wilton. They took part in the Lancer Baseball Invitational, placing fourth place of four teams, losing to Cedar Falls and then Burlington Notre Dame. The first tourney action for the Hawks did not go their way. 

All could be mended with a doubleheader slated against Regina Catholic. Mid-Prairie would split the doubleheader, but not before drama ensued. Mid-Prairie lost game one 4-3 and won game two 6-3. 

Game one had a theme, leaving runners on base, not capitalizing on the opportunities afoot. Sophomore Brady Weber started things off with an RBI base hit in the top of the first to give Mid-Prairie the early lead with two out. A walk by junior Brock Harland loaded the bases and senior Collin Miller grounded out to end the inning.

The Hawks struck again with junior Joe Hall hitting a single and finding himself on third base before scoring on a wild pitch. But in the third, the Hawks left the bases loaded yet again.

Miller pitched in game one and played extremely well. He gave up no runs through five innings and got the Hawks out of a couple of sticky situations. In the top of the sixth, an uncontested RBI triple by senior Cain Brown brought the energy to the Mid-Prairie dugout, giving them the 3-0 lead.

The Regals started their comeback in the bottom of the sixth.

It started with a great play by junior Karson Grout, going deep in the infield to collect a ground ball and firing it to first. The Regal just beat the throw with great speed. Brown did his best at first, stretching as wide as possible to collect the throw in time.

With two on and no outs, Regina scored their first run. A batter hit by a pitch brought on the tying run, still with no outs. 

Miller, after a couple mound visits, collected himself and got two swift outs before Regina knocked a two RBI single which tied the game very late.

In the top of the seventh, Brown moved to the mound. He wouldn’t stay there long. Regina hit a walk off homerun to end game one, completing the comeback. 

Game two 

Weber started on the mound for Mid-Prairie in game two and through three innings, did not allow a single baserunner. Mid-Prairie again took the early 1-0 lead with Brown leading it off by getting on base and scoring with two outs. 

In the fourth inning, the Hawks still up 1-0, the Regals finally broke through on the hit column against Weber who was dominant up to that point. It started as a two-out rally, a double to the gap. Now with the bases loaded, Regina hit a two RBI single, giving them the 2-1 edge.

Mid-Prairie did not allow themselves to play from behind for very long. The bats finally woke up and the runs reigned. 

In the top of the fifth, Mid-Prairie scored two of their own and did not look back. A hustling Landry Gingerich found himself an infield single to lead off the inning. Miller walked and senior Camron Pickard placed a successful bunt, reaching on base himself. A ground out followed, but Gingerich was safe at home to tie the game. 

With the bases still loaded and one out, junior Dylan Henry hit a sacrifice fly to score Miller and take the lead. The Regals had three errors in the inning and the Hawks capitalized.

The Regals followed by going three up, three down. Miller in center field made a diving catch in the gap between center and left field, rolling to his back and holding up his glove with proof of his excellent defense, the ball inside. Miller ended the fifth inning.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Pickard walked to load the bases. With a new pitcher now on the mound, it took Brown one pitch to knock an infield single scoring two. The Regals thought they had an easy out at first base, but Brown’s speed prevailed.

Brown stole second and the new Regal pitcher walked Grout and then Henry to score another. The Hawks left three on base but still had nice padding, a 6-2 lead.

Weber found trouble in the bottom of the sixth, eventually getting out of it but still allowing one more run. His six innings and three allowed runs earned him the quality win. Gingerich would pitch in the seventh inning, three up, three down for the sophomore. 

With that, the Hawks split the doubleheader with Regina. They left many runners on base and that is something they’ll look to clean up with a rematch against Regina at home on Thursday, June 15 and then a matchup with Treynor on Saturday, June 17 coming up.