KALONA

Half an hour before gametime one night last week, Mid-Prairie pitcher Sydney Knebel started tossing a ball to teammate Sophie Miller. Back and forth, back and forth. A pregame ritual.

Nearby, girls wearing Nitro Softball shirts were running around the softball complex at Mid-Prairie Middle School doing the usual things kids do. Chasing after softballs. Taking a few swings in a practice batting cage. Gulping down drinks. Biting into hot dogs.

It wasn’t long ago when Sydney and Sophie were those Nitro girls.

That’s where they met. Nitro Softball. It is a youth softball program for kids in the Mid-Prairie Community Schools district that feeds young athletes into the Golden Hawks machine.

“That is how these girls develop and how they can play at a young age,” said Golden Hawks head coach Amy Hartsock-Williams, herself a Mid-Prairie alum who grew up in tiny Frytown and went on to become an All-Big Ten Conference softball honoree at the University of Iowa. “When we need them to step up, they’re ready because they’ve been playing together with their age group from the time they were in second grade. It pays off.”

Sydney and Sophie are among those Nitro alums.

“I’ve known Sophie since I was probably second grade playing Nitro with her,” Knebel said. “It’s just been a great experience.”

Miller, who turns 16 in July, and Knebel, 16, are part of a Nitro youth movement that is boosting Mid-Prairie softball in Hartsock-Williams’ second year since returning as Golden Hawks head coach in 2022. Madeline Schrader and Molly Yoder are the only seniors on the team. Hannah Sellers, who hit a home run in a June 16 victory over Iowa Class 2A top-ranked Iowa City Regina, is the team’s only junior.

The rest of the squad is a mix of sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders, some of whom need a ride home after practice.

“We’ve got people on the field who can’t drive,” said Hartsock-Williams, laughing.

Incoming freshmen Olivia Swartzendruber, Morgyn Bender and Brooklyn Schneider have combined to play in 51 games this season.

Miller emerged as the team’s starting catcher a year ago as an eighth-grader, months before arriving at the high school as a freshman.

“I was so nervous,” Miller said. “I didn’t feel like I belonged there for awhile.”

“We forget how old she is now,” Hartsock-Williams said. “Last year we were reminded lots of games how young she was. But towards the end she started to pick it up, started to feel more comfortable.”

And that’s where Nitro teammate Sydney came in.

“Sydney always made me feel comfortable and made me feel like I belonged,” Miller said.

Oh, both of them certainly belong. They are the go-to Golden Hawks as pitcher and catcher and one of the top battery combinations in southeast Iowa. Knebel ranks No. 3 in the River Valley South with 86 strikeouts in 15 games. She’s the top sophomore. Miller, who started 25 games last year, has started every game this year and is hitting nearly .500. She’s the top freshman in the conference.

“All spring they work together, those two,” Hartsock-Williams said. “When Sydney’s coming in and working on her pitching, Sophie’s right there. When we have morning workouts, they’re working together.”

When the Golden Hawks defeated Regina in a dramatic one-run game last week, Knebel jumped off the mound screaming in delight as sophomore third baseman Brenna Jehle snagged a line drive at third and doubled a Regina runner off first base to end the game.

Miller joined her and the rest of the Golden Hawks for a middle-of-the-field celebration.

They were Nitro friends together. Again.

“She’s always my favorite on the team,” Knebel said of Miller. “I mean, I love the other ones, but she just can read me. We know. We have the same feelings. We want it both so bad. Work together.”

“It’s just been great,” Miller said. “She (Knebel) has been a real like leader for me. She’s helped me get into it and be comfortable with where I’m at. She’s just made me feel better with playing.”

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