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Mid-Prairie baseball flexes in regular season finale
Grout, Golden Hawks too much for Washington
WELLMAN — Heading into this week of action, the Mid-Prairie baseball team had lost three of its last six games, but on Wednesday night, the Golden Hawks looked back on track and just as dangerous as ever.
One day after busting Bellevue 11-3, the Golden Hawks flew past Washington 8-1 in a non-conference showdown at Mid-Prairie High School. It was the last regular season game for the Golden Hawks before postseason play.
“That’s where we want to be going into the postseason,” said Golden Hawks’ coach Kyle Mullet. “It’s our last regular season game of the year, and we always enjoy playing against Washington.”
It didn’t hurt that Mid-Prairie had hard-throwing sophomore Karson Grout on the mound. Grout dominated the Demon bats, striking out six batters and giving up just one hit over five innings of work.
“My fastball was just working,” Grout said. “When I’m on and it can move, it’s tough to hit.”
While Washington tried to solve Grout on the mound, he burned them at the plate. The sophomore started things up with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first, and Alex Bean followed with a single to score him and make it 2-0.
The Golden Hawks put up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, one of which came on an RBI double by Camron Pickard. Mid-Prairie tacked on three more in the fifth, including Grout’s second RBI triple of the day.
Washington was able to squeak in one run off of Mid-Prairie reliever Collin Miller, who came in to pitch in the sixth inning. Lucas Kroll sent an RBI double past the right fielder to plate a Demon run, but that’s all they would get.
“It really comes down from the offensive side to being able to make adjustments,” said Washington head coach Tyler Rausch. “They’re a good squad, and (Grout) is a good pitcher. Our kids didn’t adjust well to his velocity.”
Grout finished 2-for-3 with a pair of triples and two RBIs. Bean went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Miller, Pickard and Brady Weber each knocked in a run.
Washington’s Avery Six took the loss on the mound.
Mid-Prairie is now 15-10 heading into postseason play. Washington’s loss dropped them to 5-17.
Mid-Prairie’s Karson Grout (left) leaves his feet to receive a throw down to second while Washington’s Ethan Zieglowsky (right) slides in during the late innings of the Golden Hawks’ 8-1 win over the Demons on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Washington’s Luke Beenblossom receives a throw down to third to cut down a Mid-Prairie runner on the bases on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mid-Prairie’s Camron Pickard connects with a pitch in a home win against Washington on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Washington’s Kole Williams stretches out to record an out at first on Wednesday night at Mid-Prairie. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
