Hillcrest (17-7) punched its ticket to state for the first time since 2008 with a 1-0 victory over Pekin (12-10) in a 1A substate final at Fairfield on July 15.
Hillcrest senior Seth Ours scored what ended up being the game winning run in the first inning off an RBI hit from from fellow senior Mason Bender.
Phoenix Anderson, a senior, went the distance on the mound to take the win. Anderson secured seven strikeouts, surrendered two hits, and allowed three walks.
Up next for Hillcrest is battling top seeded Remsen St. Mary's (23-1) in the 1A state tournament quarterfinals at Merchants Park in Carroll on July 21.
