The Huskies didn’t have much success against Hillcrest’s pitching the first time through the batting order. But a patient approach eventually paid off as Highland (3-0) put up a dozen runs over three innings in the 12-5 win. 

Senior catcher Trevor McFarland was 3-for-5 including a solo shot that started a three-run fourth. 

“He gave me a little changeup and I lunged really bad,”  Then (coach Seth) Milledge told me to keep connected and stay all the way through. And he gave me what I wanted, the inside fastball. I got contact on it, and I didn't try to kill it and I hit it out.”

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Chase Schultz put the Huskies’ first runs on the scoreboard with a bases-loaded single. He finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a 2-run homer in the fifth inning. Connor Grinstead finished 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Luke Miller was 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot. 

“It was really just being patient there, waiting for pitches that we could hit, but then being aggressive when he was in the zone,” Milledge said. “”Obviously, (Luke) Schrock is a good pitcher, we knew he was going to be around. We knew we'd have opportunities to hit the ball. After that first time through we made the adjustments we needed to make.”

Raven freshman Phoenix Anderson made his first varsity start and was hit by a pitch in the game’s first at bat and scored on a Seth Ours double. Ours had 11 hits last year in 13 starts as an eighth grader, but none went for extra bases. He had three doubles in the Ravens (0-1) season opener.

Liam Schrock drew a leadoff walk in the second, but was stranded. The Ravens put two on with one out in the fourth, but were unable to cut into the 5-1 lead. 

The Ravens had six freshmen in the lineup facing the returning conference player of the year, Schultz, on the mound. 

“We have quite a few guys, that was their first varsity at bat and they’re facing a tough pitcher,” Hillcrest coach Danny Hershberger said. “I thought we had some really good at bats. Every time we were up there, guys looked better every time, so that’s all you can ask for.”

Josiah Beachy had a hit and drove in two runs in the sixth inning. Luke Schrock had an RBI double in the seventh inning.   

Hershberger said that a few defensive mistakes were understandable for a young team playing in its first game of the season. 

“The biggest thing was, that one inning where they were able to put five on the board, we had multiple tough defensive plays, that in the future we need to step up and make some of those. But for the most part Luke did a great job of giving us chances to get outs.”

Logan Bonebrake had two hits and Brenton Bonebrake stole two bases for the Huskies. Kaige Vonnahme had a hit and an RBI. 

Schultz gave up three runs on four hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out 10 while earning his second win of the season. 

We couldn't have played much of a better defensive ballgame,” Milledge said. “And then of course  any time you have Chase Schultz on the mound, you feel really good.

"Really good job out of him just pounding the zone, being around the plate, striking guys out — but then just pitching to contact in some instances. And hats off to Hillcrest, they hit the ball well tonight, but I think we played very good defense on our end when they did find spots.”