2004 yielded state championship

WELLMAN - Players on this year's Golden Hawk baseball team would have to have a very good memory, if they were even born, to recall the only Mid-Prairie state championship in the summer pastime of boys.

The year was 2004 when Mid-Prairie High School captured a state Class 2A championship in baseball. The Golden Hawks capped that season with a 31-10 record by defeating South O'Brien, Paullina (20-14) 7-3 to claim the title.

In the state quarterfinal in 2004 on the way to the title, Mid-Prairie scored a 14-2 win in five innings over Griswold. Joel Fry was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Dan Slaubaugh was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

It was a 12-6 triumph over East Marshall (22-9) in the semifinals.

A five-run fifth inning by Mid-Prairie in the title game helped the Golden Hawks to their first state title in any sport. Chris Driscol drilled three hits for the champions, and each Mid-Prairie starter collected at least one. South O'Brien was bidding to be the first number eight seed to win a title since Ankeny in 1999.

Mid-Prairie was coached by Brian Miller. Mid-Prairie average over eight runs per game that season. Golden Hawk pitcher Brent Yotty, a senior southpaw, had a 9-4 record that season.

The Golden Hawks enjoyed a successful run of state tournament appearances in the early years of this century.

Besides earning the championship in 2004, Mid-Prairie went to state in 2001, 2006 and 2007. Miller was the coach through 2006.

First baseman Dan Hartzel and outfielder Nike Luke were all-state selections on the 2001 state-qualifying Mid-Prairie team.

First baseman Erik Christensen and outfielder Sean Thorton made all-state from the 2004 state championship team.

The 2007 team had three players earn all-state recognition in Colin Brenneman as utility, Jason Kern as first baseman and Trenton Kos at third base.

The Hawks won their first-round game at state in 2001 3-2 over Sargent Bluff-Luton, but lost 4-3 to eventual champ Emmetsburg in the semifinals.

The 2006 team had to go to extra innings, defeating Beckman 7-6 in eight. Eventual champion Davenport Assumption won the semifinal 8-2.

A first-round win again at the state tournamant happened in 2007 when the Golden Hawks scalped West Sioux 13-3 in five innings. Assumption again won the semifinal with Mid-Prairie, this time by a 12-5 score. Cherokee beat Assumption 5-4 for the title.