It’s an all-KCII area matchup tonight when Hillcrest Academy and Highland get together for Southeast Iowa Superconference baseball and softball. The Hillcrest softball team was 0-12 a season ago, hitting .158 as a team, led by Sarah Miller who is back for her senior year after hitting .300 as a junior. Esther Hughes also returns after hitting .265 last season. The Ravens had a 7.77 ERA a year ago with Leah Bontrager throwing each inning.

Highland softball was 9-7 last year. The Huskies hit .324 as a team and return eight players from that high powered offense, led by Dani Laughlin and her .600 average as a freshman with 33 hits and eight RBI. The Huskies finished with a 3.53 ERA and return everyone who threw a pitch last season, led by Grace Batcheller and her 63 innings of work with a 7-4 record and 3.52 ERA. These two teams met twice a season ago with Highland sweeping the series by 12-0 and 13-1 scores.

The Hillcrest Academy baseball team ended last year with a 5-6 record. The Ravens hit .281 as a team and return six of their top seven at the plate by average with Eli Ours at .382 with 13 hits and four RBI. On the mound, Hillcrest had a team ERA of 3.74. The Ravens return their top three arms by ERA. London Schrock led the way with a 2-1 record in 14 innings and 0.49 ERA.

Highland was 8-7 last season. The Huskies hit .329 a season ago. The Huskies will have to replace their top two hitters with Bill Laughlin and Mason McFarland graduating. Leading returner at the plate is Trevor McFarland who hit .375 as a sophomore. The Huskies had a 2.71 ERA as a team and will need to replace Laughlin and Cael Yeggy who were the leaders in that stat a year ago. Chase Schultz has the best numbers back, he was 3-1 a year ago with a 2.62 ERA. These two teams met once last year with the Ravens getting an 8-5 win. You can hear all of the action live tonight between Hillcrest Academy and Highland on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 5:15 and the Premier Shed Shop and Champion Metal Supply First pitch at 5:45 from the campus of Hillcrest Academy.