The Hillcrest Ravens’ third week of softball was filled with hardship, ending in a doubleheader combined loss of 27-4 against the Lone Tree Lady Lions on Friday, June 9.

They knew ahead of time they were in for a rough week, playing the likes of Mediapolis (5-5), Highland (8-6), Van Buren (10-4), Columbus (5-5) and then Lone Tree (7-6). 

“It was a tough week, we knew going in it was going to be a difficult challenge for us,” head coach Kent Blossom said. “I thought we had good energy coming into tonight [against Lone Tree].”

But overall, this has been a better season for the Ravens and a trend of late to gradually climb out of the hole from 2020-21 when the Ravens went 0-23.

So far, the Ravens are 3-8, just one win shy of their total win count from last year, 4-19. There is still plenty more time for the Ravens to find their groove and snatch a few more wins. 

Malia Yoder has been their rock on the mound, earning each of the three wins. Yoder has started all eleven games with fellow sophomore Kylee Statler earning some clean-up time in three games. Yoder is averaging almost six strikeouts a game with 65 on the season. 

“For an overall younger team to have someone like [Yoder] in the circle and battle for us is a great improvement for us overall, for the team,” Blossom said. 

Three players are tied with the lead in batting, Statler, Morgyn Nafziger and Delaney Shaw each have 10 hits this season, almost one per game (each athlete has 11 starts on the year). Statler has 12 RBIs, one more than Lydia Beachy, the team leaders in the stat. It’s the pitcher, Yoder, with 14 runs on the season, an on base percentage of .528 behind Nafziger and Shaw for the team lead.

Of 38 attempts, the team has 35 steals, Yoder owning 12, yet to be caught.

They’re doing things right as a team and there are things to still improve upon. They don’t have the luxury of a deep bullpen or utility players waiting on the bench for pinch running and designated hitting. But they can still improve on their foundational players and the fundamentals of softball.

“I think the way to get out of it is just keeping composed and continuing to communicate with one another,” Blossom said. “I think [our defensive end is] where we’re struggling the most and it often times translates to the offensive end.” 

But one thing is for certain; there is verifiable proof of the team’s improving success. Yoder has taken a leap in play from not starting on the mound to owning the position for the team. And the bats are staying consistent in the box. There isn’t a sad face in the dugout either. The student athletes are eager to keep playing and keep improving.

“We’re seeing that there’s some players trying to get out of a funk at the plate and I think we’re excited to face New London [next] and get some things rolling from there,” Blossom said.

The Ravens will play New London on Monday, June 12 to start their week. After this game, they’ll take on Louisa-Muscatine on Tuesday and West Burlington on Wednesday. On Thursday, they’ll travel to Pekin and come back home to play Wapello on Friday.

They’ll play in their first tournament on Saturday at home, getting a well-deserved break on Sunday before playing Holy Trinity Catholic next Monday. This week will be an extremely busy one for the Ravens.

It will also be very telling. 

They’ll get some favorable matchups like New London who is winless, Pekin who is winless, Danville who is winless (Hillcrest beat Danville to start their season), and Holy Trinity Catholic who sits at 4-7. Hillcrest is primed to take control of their season and get back on track.