The Southeast Iowa Superconference baseball opener for the Highland Huskies and Hillcrest Academy Ravens is scheduled for tonight in Riverside. Highland has been busy so far this year, out to a 2-0 mark with wins last week over English Valleys 14-0 and Keota 2-1. The Huskies are hitting .245 as a team with Trevor McFarland starting the year three for six with a pair of RBI and a walk. Connor Grinstead has also driven in two. On the mound, Ethan Paisley and Chase Schultz each have a win with the tandem combining for a 0.54 ERA through two games, allowing just one run, seven hits and striking out 21.

This is the season opener for Hillcrest baseball. The Ravens were 14-10 last year, 9-7 in the Superconference. The Ravens hit .297 as a team last season and return three of their top four bats including Luke Schrock who hit .407, best that’s back. The Ravens had a 3.24 team ERA in 2021. Schrock is the returning innings leader from a year ago with 26 and a 3.27 ERA. Seth Ours is back after a 0.70 ERA a season ago in 10 frames of work. These two teams have split the last 24 meetings right down the middle. You can hear all of the action live tonight between the Huskies and Ravens on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 6:30 and the Heritage Area Agency on Aging first pitch at 7p.m.

These two softball teams will also get together in Riverside. Hillcrest opened the year Monday with a 9-3 loss at Columbus. The Ravens were 0-23 a year ago, hitting .269 as a team. Evelyn Gerber is the leading bat back from a season ago with a .400 average, 16 total hits and eight runs scored last year. The Ravens return all of their pitching from last season. Leah Bontrager was the top worker, going 88 innings with a 12.38 ERA in 18 starts last season. Highland comes into their opener off of a 22-7 season last year. The Huskies are ranked No. 12 in Class 1A in the first poll of the season issued by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Highland hit .285 as a team last season, and return their top seven hitters, led by Sarah Burton with her .411 average, 39 total hits, 40 runs scored and 11 RBI. Highland also returns all of their pitching from a season ago with Grace Batcheller and Jessica Kraus combining for a 2.05 ERA last year in over 200 innings. Batcheller had a 16-5 record. Highland has won 18 straight over the Ravens. Softball starts at seven in Riverside.