Baseball Roundup: West Branch Ends Season With Loss to Sixth-ranked Mid-Prairie
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West Branch had its bid for a second consecutive state tournament trip cut short with a 12-2 loss to sixth-ranked Mid-Prairie on Tuesday in a Class 2A, District 9 semifinal in Wellman.
The win was the sixth straight for Mid-Prairie (13-3) and sends the Golden Hawks into the District 9 title game on Saturday against West Liberty (8-5).
West Branch closed the season 6-10.
West Branch tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning when Brad Hinger led off the inning with a single and scored on an RBI groundout by Cael Fiderlein.
Mid-Prairie rattled off nine runs, two in the second and seven in the fifth to take control of the game.
Hunter went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to lead West Branch while Matt Whaley had a hit and scored a run and Gage Gingerich had a hit.
Trey Eagle took the loss for West Branch allowing seven runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking seven in 4 1/3 innings.
Monte Slabaugh earned the win for Mid-Prairie allowing two unearned runs on five hits while striking out three in five innings.
Aidan Rath homered and drove in four runs for Mid-Prairie and Brad Tornow had two hits and drove in three runs for the Golden Hawks.
West Branch             010 001  –  2  5 5
Mid-Prairie              120 072  – 12 9 2
W – Monte Slabaugh             L – Trey Eagle
HR – M-P: Aidan Rath
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