One full week after playing in their regular season finale the Ravens hit the road to face off against the Tri-County Trojans in the first round of the Class 1A Regional playoffs on June 30. 

With both teams seeking a win to continue their season this playoff game ended up belonging to the Trojans. Tri-County defeated Hillcrest, 10-0 in six innings, to advance to the next round while Hillcrest’s season came to a close. 

This shutout postseason loss for the Ravens will sting for the time being but putting this season into perspective from previous campaigns they have made great strides into turning this young team into a formidable one down the road. 

Two seasons ago Hillcrest softball finished with zero wins, one season ago they finished with four wins, and this year showing improvement yet again they finished with a 7-17 record. 

“The overall message was essentially just a job well done,” Hillcrest coach Kent Blossom on what he told his team after the playoff loss. “You look at our roster and where we are in terms of whose it’s composed of, it was sophomores and freshmen and incoming freshmen. Not one girl played their last softball game tonight. We got seven wins on the season and surpassed many other seasons here, recently. It’s just a great accomplishment and the takeaway is just, job well done, honestly.”

Tri-County jumped out to an early lead after scoring a single run in the first frame and this score of 1-0 remained consistent for two more innings with both teams playing stout defense, not giving up any runs. The Trojans eventually broke through on offense to take full control of the game in the bottom of the fourth.

Hillcrest surrendered five runs in the fourth to fall behind 6-0. Two errors by the Ravens, a throw to third that was wide and failing to catch a pop fly in the outfield, resulted in four of Trojan’s five runs being scored. 

After finding their rhythm on offense the Trojans added to their lead by scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. In The top of the sixth Hillcrest saw one of its best scoring opportunities of the night once sophomore Lydia Beachy made it to third after initially getting walked, but she would be tagged out while attempting to slide home. 

Tri-County scored a single run in the sixth to bring an end to the game and the Raven’s season. The Trojan’s pitcher, senior Delanie Little, gave up one hit and ended the game with nine strikeouts. 

Malia Yoder pitched the entire postseason game for Hillcrest, wrapping up her encouraging sophomore year. Yoder racked up six strikeouts, walked three batters, and gave up eight hits. She also produced the Raven’s lone hit of the game for a single. 

The curtains close on another season of Hillcrest softball and showing great signs of improvement and being made up of a young team that gained valuable experience there is no doubt their future trajectory is on an upward path.