In the first game of an annual series to be played at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids the Cascade Cougars beat Mid-Prairie 10-1 Thursday night. The two schools chose the location due to travel distance between the districts. Though the Golden Hawks fell, they were the team with the first scoring chance on the night. Seth Eash was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Nick Stimson drew a one out walk and Trent Fisher bunted for an infield single to load them up with just one out. Cascade pitcher Derek Lieurance rose to the occasion and struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.

Fisher was making his first start on the hill for Mid-Prairie Thursday. He brought an undefeated varsity record into the contest and looked great through the first three innings, surrendering just one run to the high powered Cascade offense. In the fourth inning the Cougars broke through for a big number, starting the frame with three consecutive extra base hits Cascade would ultimately send 10 batters to the plate and score six runs to push the lead to 7-0. The Cougars would add two more in the fifth, chasing Fisher from the game for reliever Spencer Shalla. Mid-Prairie tried to chip away at the 9-0 lead, they loaded the bases in the fifth with two down and put two on with just one out in the sixth but were unable to score on either chance. The Cougars would add their final run in the top of the seventh and Mid-Prairie broke through in the bottom half when Shalla drove in Jackson Yoder on a sac fly. Following the game Golden Hawk Head Coach Ryan Koller talked about the experience of playing at the home of the Kernals and Mid-Prairie’s scoring chances on the night.

“What a phenomenal situation we are in. It’s been phenomenal, and the kids just had fun even though the outcome is not what we wanted, we played a heck of a team, but just being here I think is going to be a yearly situation, just a great thing for the kids,” Koller said. “Out approach has been just trying to put the ball in play, obviously you want line drives whenever your can, [but] make the other team make a play. We’re progressing, and hopefully by playoff time we will be where we need to be.”

Lieurance recorded the win for Cascade going all seven innings, giving up just four hits while striking out an impressive 13. Fisher took the loss going four plus innings, allowing seven hits, nine runs seven of them earned, striking out four and walking a pair. At the plate Mid-Prairie was led by Eash, Fisher and Wyatt Cady who each had one hit. The Golden Hawks are now 6-14 overall and travel to Keokuk tonight for a doubleheader.