BROOKINGS — Madison/Chester’s JD Prorok polished off an accomplished high school baseball career with a state championship.

The three-time all-state pitcher was a driving factor in the Bulldogs playoff run, concluding in an 8-2 win over Clark Area in the Class B state championship on May 26.

“We had plenty of talent the last two years but this year, it seemed like our team was just together,” Prorok said following the championship game. “Everyone was on the same page, we worked together and at the end of the day, we did what we needed to do.”

But it wasn’t an easy road to the state championship for the Bulldogs. Madison/Chester was nearly knocked out of the North Super Regionals in an upset against No. 8 Elkton-Lake Benton. 

Late in the game Prorok came in to pitch in a bases-loaded, zero outs jam and got out of it with three-straight outs before the Bulldogs stormed back in the seventh with a walk-off win.

He then tossed four shutout innings in the regional championship against Groton to get the Bulldogs to the state tournament before adding a complete game outing in the state quarterfinals against Winner/Colome, sparking the eventual seventh-inning walk-off with a lead-off double. Following a 1-0 semifinal win over Dakota Valley, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening frame to control the state title against the Dinosaurs.

Madison/Chester's JD Prorok celebrates after hitting a double in the seventh inning of a Class B state quarterfinal game against Winner/Colome on May 25, 2026, at Bob Shelden Field in Brookings. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“Instead of it being run-rules like we had early in the year, we had to grind for it,” Prorok said. “We had to go together as a team, we had plenty of conversations in between innings saying ‘we need to push one. Dig in, do our job, and move on to the next guy.’ It feels like it was more of a team effort than just a blowout.”

Across five win-or-go-home regional and state tournament games, Prorok totaled three wins on the mound allowing just two earned runs on six hits and four walks, striking out 23 batters in 13 innings pitched. 

For a team that won four of its five postseason games by just 1-run, Prorok’s pitching along with Cohen Hahn and tournament MVP Braylon Oftedal who both tossed complete games in the state tournament played a big factor in the Bulldogs’ banner season.

“Our pitching staff stepped up,” Prorok said. “We had Cohen Hahn and Braylon Oftedal go complete games, that saved our bullpen. We didn’t have to bring anyone in and if we needed to, we had guys.”

Prorok earned Class B Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors in his senior year, allowing just three earned runs in 46 innings for a 0.46 ERA with 94 strikeouts. But it was his improvement at the plate from his junior year that made the biggest jump from last season. Prorok ended the season with a team-high .426 batting average with eight doubles, a homer and 15 RBIs.

Madison/Chester's JD Prorok celebrates after throwing a strikeout in the Class B quarterfinals against Winner/Colome on May 25, 2026, at Bob Shelden Field in Brookings. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“It felt good,” Prorok said on winning the player and pitcher of the year awards. “Going into this year I knew if we wanted a chance to win the state championship, the stick had to come along. This offseason I worked a little bit and it felt good just to see everything piece together.”

The future Northwestern Raider ended his high career allowing just 15 earned runs (23 total runs) in 113 innings, totaling 239 strikeouts.

As Prorok played his final game with the Madison/Chester/Oldham-Ramona/Rutland Bulldogs, he pointed out how important his teammates have meant to him and his baseball career.

“This group has meant everything (to me),” Prorok said. “I’ve played with this group since I was seven or eight and all these dudes I’m just so close with. I’ll miss them, I’ll miss this group.”

As for Bulldog head coach Eric Hortness, he was most happy for Prorok after battling through the loss of his father, Ken, during his sophomore year.

“With everything he’s gone through, that’s who I’m happiest for,” an emotional Hortness said of Prorok. “Everything he’s gone through the last 2-3 years, not many kids could go through that and then perform how he does.”