The cliché says you want to be playing your best softball at the end of the year. The #4 Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks are peaking at the perfect time, after knocking off Heart of Iowa Conference Co-Champion PCM 9-0 in the regional semifinals Friday. Dating back to the regular season Mid-Prairie has won their last five games by a combined score of 41-1. The Golden Hawks enter the game at 29-11 facing #8 Clarke of Osceola tonight in Oskaloosa looking for their third straight state tournament berth. The Lady Indians have yet to allow a run this post season defeating Albia 1-0 in the regional quarterfinals and scoring late to beat Centerville 3-0 in the regional semifinals. Clarke of Osceola took home the regular season championship in the South Central Conference with a perfect 10-0 record in league play. The Lady Indians are 28-5 on the year, have won 18 consecutive games and are looking for their first state tournament appearance since 1995. Head Coach Justin Lutjen talked about his team’s focus in getting ready for the regional final.

“[We just need to] keep doing what we’re doing, I think there are always opportunities to get better and there’s always always something we can get better at,” Lutjen said. “We can’t sit back and always go through the motions at everyday at practice, we’ll find a couple things we need to do better, we;ll drill them, and we’ll come out [tonight] and we’ll be sharper. I’ll take my pitcher here and I’ll take my girls any day against any competition, so I’m excited, I’m ready to go.”

Pregame is set for 6:45 with first pitch at 7PM on AM and FM KCII and online at KCIIradio.com under radio plus.