State Tournament Softball

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks proved why they belonged at the state tournament following an opening game loss to Fort Dodge St. Edmond Wednesday, July 21.
The young unranked team took down IKM-Manning (24-14) 7-6 and Hinton (23-17) 4-0 in the consolation bracket to finish their season in fifth place in Class 2A state softball tournament at Fort Dodge.
IKM-Manning took advantage of an early M-P error to score a run in the first inning and then three runs in the second for a 4-0 lead.
Mid-Prairie’s Emmie Leinen started a rally in the third with a one out single and advanced to second on a passed ball. She stole third and scored on an error by the IKM catcher. With two outs Olivia Lugar doubled and scored on a single by Kelsie Berg. Mid-Prairie came within two, 4-2 score.
The M-P defense held tough in the fourth and fifth innings as Mid-Prairie pitcher Olivia Lugar allowed only 3 hits.
Leinen started things off again in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and again to third on a ground out by Kaitlin Kaalberg. Leinen scored on a single by Lugar for one more point on the score board.
IKA-Manning made it interesting in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. IKA-Manning’s Kristina Halbur popped out to Kaalberg for the first out with bases loaded. Shortstop Mallory McArtor threw home on a fielder’s choice for the second out. With bases still loaded McArtor fielded and tossed the final out to the third baseman to end the inning. 4-3.
Mid-Prairie took the lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring two runs on three hits and taking advantage of an IKM-Manning error.
IKM-Manning came back to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
IKM-Manning fell apart in the seventh inning as the game went past the time limit. Senior Kelsie Berg was placed on second base in compliance with international rules. She later scored on a shortstop error to tie it up at 6 all.
Freshman Mariah Swartzendruber singled in the winning run with no outs.
Lugar led at the plate 3-4 with two RBIs. Berg was 2-4 with an RBI, and Leinen also had two hits. Swartzendruber, McArtor and Felicia Schulty each drove in a run.
Schulty got the win in relief, allowing one unearned run on six hits.
Lugar gave up five runs on six hits.
IKM- 131 000 1 – 6
M-P 002 012 2 – 7