LONE TREE

Breaking out the brooms for the season sweep and clinching the conference crown for the third straight year, the Ravens (11-7) went on the road and put together another impressive defensive performance by collecting a 5-0 victory over Lone Tree (7-11) last Friday.

Hillcrest, who have won six of its last seven games, has found its stride as the regular season nears its end. With this win the Ravens raise their record in Southeast Iowa Super Conference North play to 10-2  and earn the title of conference champions. 

For the ninth time this season the Ravens once again limited their opponent to a goose egg on the scoreboard as Lone Tree recorded zero runs for the fifth time this year.

On the offensive side the Ravens took the lead when they scored three runs in the second. Hillcrest added insurance runs by scoring once in the sixth and once again in the seventh.

Seth Ours continued to impress on the mound for Hillcrest as the winning senior pitcher finished with nine strikeouts, giving up one hit, and allowing one walk. Starting in five and appearing in six games, Ours boasts a 4-1 pitching record and has recorded a team high 45 strikeouts.

Recording two hits, a single and a triple, Rowan Miller brought in a team high three runs. Senior teammate Mason Bender also ended the night with two hits and a single RBI.

Hillcrest 4, W-MU 0

The Ravens (9-6) picked up their fourth consecutive shutout when they defeated Winfield-Mt Union (4-11) in a home conference matchup on June 24. 

Hillcrest went out in front early after scoring twice in the first and added two more runs to its lead in the third. The Raven defense made sure this lead stood the test of time as they kept the Wolves away from home all game long.

Phoenix Anderson earned the win on the mound for Hillcrest as the senior pitcher struck out four, gave up one hit, and allowed zero walks.

Rowan Miller, Mason Bender, and Mason Helmuth all led the team on offense with two hits each. Helmuth also recorded an RBI.

Hillcrest 8, Highland 6

Earning another sweep over a conference rival, the Ravens (10-6) rallied in the third to take down the Huskies (8-7) in a home conference battle on June 25.

Highland began this rematch with four runs in the first to take an early advantage but Hillcrest fought back in the bottom of the inning to decrease its deficit to one.

The third inning saw the Huskies score twice to bolster their lead but the Ravens once again responded in a big way by scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning to take its first lead of the game. This lead proved to be vital as both teams were shutout in the remaining four innings.

Taking the win on the mound was Rowan Miller. The junior pitched in five innings, tallied five strikeouts, gave up nine hits, and allowed three walks. Senior teammate Liam Schrock pitched in two innings and finished with three strikeouts.

Both Lawson Schrock and Lincoln Miller ended the night with two hits each. Lawson Shrock also brought in a team high two runs.

Burlington Notre Dame 10, Hillcrest 5

In a contest which needed extra innings to decide a winner, the Ravens (10-7) were defeated in a home conference cross over matchup by Burlington Notre Dame (12-8) last Thursday.

The first inning saw Hillcrest take a quick 4-1 lead and this score stayed consistent as the next five innings saw no runs scored by either team. The Nikes eventually fought back in the seventh as they scored four runs to not only erase their deficit but also take the lead.

Hillcrest responded with a game-tying run to send the game to extras, but Burling ND carried its momentum from the previous inning by scoring five runs in the eighth and prevented Hillcrest from scoring in the bottom of the inning to complete the comeback victory.

Rowan Miller finished with a team high three hits and recorded an RBI. Liam Shrock and Lawson Schrock also brought in one run each. Taking the loss on the mound was Lawon Schrock as the sophomore pitched in 7.2 innings, gave up seven hits, and allowed five walks.

Hillcrest 17, West Burlington 6

Matching their season high in runs scored, the Ravens went on the road and collected a non-conference victory over West Burlington (8-10) last Monday.

After three runless innings, Hillcrest grabbed a commanding lead by scoring six in the fourth and followed up by scoring seven in the fifth.

The Falcons scored four in the fifth and two in the sixth in an attempt to rally but the Ravens kept their lead safe by adding a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

Rowan Miller picked up the win on the mound as he pitched in five innings, struck out seven, gave up five hits, and allowed three walks.

It was a great night to be named Mason as Mason Bender blasted his first home run of the season for a grand slam to finish with a team high four RBIs and Mason Helmuth also connected on a home run to finish with a team high three hits

Up next for Hillcrest (12-7) is a first round playoff matchup against HLV (5-10) which takes place at Highland on July 5.