Hawks split weekend games

It was a home tournament for the Mid-Prairie softball team, and it opened up with a tough test.

The Class 3A, No. 8 ranked Hawks opened their tournament against Class 1A, No. 2 ranked New London and a couple of costly, sixth-inning errors came back to haunt them.

New London picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, but Mid-Prairie answered right back in the top of the fourth.

Emily Cayton hit a two-RBI triple to highlight the inning, while Ashley Sojka knocked a two-RBI double.

Alex Rath earned the other RBI in the inning as Mid-Prairie jumped ahead 5-2.

The bottom of the sixth was where the damage was done for the Hawks, as five runs came across for New London, who closed out the game in the seventh to pick up the win.

Emma Troyer went all six innings for the Hawks, as only three of the seven runs allowed went down as earned. Troyer struck out two in the contest, walking none and allowing seven hits.

Mid-Prairie had 11 hits in the contest, with Rath, Lexi Duwa, Troyer and Cayton each notching multi-hit contests.

In the second game of the tournament, the Hawks took on West Delaware, and jumped out to an early lead.

A three-run second inning helped propel the Hawks to a 4-1 victory, as Cayton earned two more RBIs in the contest.

Rath and Taylor Kurtz each had an RBI in the contests, while Kurtz, Amber Kral and Rath each had multi-hit games.

Kurtz pitched all seven innings for the Hawks, allowing one run on five hits and striking out three in the game.

Mid-Prairie will look ahead to the postseason now, with its first game coming against Central Lee on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

If the Hawks win their home playoff game, they will take on the winner of Class 3A, No. 2 ranked Solon and Williamsburg in Solon on Friday.