The Mid-Prairie softball team won conference last year and finished fifth in state. The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks are coached by Kara Beatty who is entering her second year as head coach. Beatty was named coach of the year last year.

The Golden Hawks bring back a load of experience, losing just one player due to graduation.

Returning for her senior year is Taylor Kurtz who was a First Team All River Valley Conference player. As a pitcher last year she had a 2.03 Earned Run Average and 52 strikeouts in conference play. Kurtz started 25 games for the Golden Hawks last year with an 18-5 record and recorded 99 strike outs.

Another First Team All Conference back for the Golden Hawks is junior Amber Kral who had a.660 average 30 runs batted in, five homers, two triples and eight doubles. Senior Lexi Duwa another First Team All Conference player, had a .477 average with 24 runs scored. Junior Emma Troyer was another player picked for first team last year with a .408 average and 13 RBIs.

The Golden Hawks have a doubleheader match up against the West Branch Bears (15-20) to start the season tomorrow. The Bears lost three athletes from last year’s team due to graduation.

The Season opener for the Golden Hawks will begin tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in West Branch.