The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk softball team scored a signature win Thursday night, taking down No. 11 in Class 2A Wilton 8-5 at Carr, Vincent, Gould Field in Kalona. The sticks were hot for the Hawks early. They scored five times in an eight batter first inning, with RBI for Kadence Grout and Sophie Miller, punctuated by a three-run-homer for eighth grader Jersey Jergens. Wilton answered with an eight batter, three run second and a homer of their own from Syndey Bliss to make it 5-3. The Golden Hawks added on with single runs in the third, fourth and sixth on RBI from Sophia Puttmann, Miller and Grout respectively. The offense was more than enough for Alena Snider and Grout in the circle. Snider got the win, giving up four hits, two earned runs and two walks in her five innings. Grout got the six out save on four hits, one earned run and a couple of strikeouts. Golden Hawk of the Game Jergens joined the KCII postgame show live to talk about her home run, the team’s night on offense and the win.

Jergens said, “I think it was important to get ahead and consistently get runs throughout the game. It was also important to keep a strong defense up. I just wanted to make some strong contact. I had two strikes against me and I knew I needed to get on base. I was not expecting to hit a home run! I knew it went pretty far, I didn’t know it went out until I rounded first base. I was very excited because I knew it scored three and pushed is even farther into the lead!”

Each team finished with eight hits. Jergens led Mid-Prairie with three RBI, Grout and Miller had two each and Puttmann one. Elise Foster scored three times. The Hawks are now 5-6 with the win and 3-3 in the River Valley as Wilton drops to 8-7 on the year and 3-4 in conference. The Golden Hawks are in tournament action at Fort Dodge this weekend.