WELLMAN

Mid-Prairie’s hitting party was big Saturday night. And it was quick.

Golden Hawks senior Cain Brown began his three-hit night in the opening inning and scored on a single by Brady Weber. Dylan Henry hit a triple to score Weber. Henry scored on another hit.

Less than two hours later, the Golden Hawks emerged with an 11-0, mercy rule victory and their fourth consecutive district championship.

"It's awesome. It's great," said senior first baseman Cain Brown, who has played on all four of those district championship teams.

The Golden Hawks have won 15 straight games.

"Hopefully we can stay confident, play the way we've been playing and make it back to the state tournament," said head coach Kyle Mullet.

Mid-Prairie, which made it to the 2A state semifinals a year ago, will play for a spot in the 2023 state tournament Tuesday against powerful Van Buren County in a substate final to be played in Ottumwa.

In two district tournament games, the Golden Hawks scored 21 runs and had 26 hits in just nine total innings. They scored in every inning of both games. By the time the Golden Hawks put Saturday’s game away by scoring four times in the third inning, Durant was on its third pitcher.

Brown and Karson Grout, a junior and University of Iowa recruit, led the Golden Hawk with three hits apiece. Brock Harland drove in three runs, and Grout and Henry each drove in two.

Senior pitcher Alex Bean gave up just three hits over five innings and struck out three.

The Golden Hawks (27-6) will face a Van Buren team that has scored 22 runs in its last two games. The Warriors (25-3) rank No. 3 in Class 2A in hitting and put up 25 runs against Lone Tree and 16 against Highland earlier this summer.

 See this week’s News for more details on Mid-Prairie baseball.