Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy

The final tune-up of 2023 regular season was a success for the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team as they pummeled Prince of Peace 12-2 Saturday in five innings in Kalona. The Ravens never trailed, leading 3-0 after one, posting an eight spot in the third to jump up 11-0, and adding another in the fourth to lead 12-0 before the Irish got on the board with a pair in the fifth. The Ravens outhit Prince of Peace 12-4 on the day and had four extra base hits including a Grant Bender homer, his team leading fourth of the year. Eight different Ravens scored, eight different Ravens had a hit and seven drove in a run.

Luke and Liam Schrock both finished two for three, drove in three and scored twice. Bender had two RBI and a run scored. Seth Ours, Jace Rempel, Rowan Miller and Phoenix Anderson each knocked in one. Ours and Josiah Beachy scored twice, Miller, Grant and Mason Bender, and Anderson all scored once. Miller collected the pitching win, his third, with five innings of work and five strikeouts. Hillcrest ends the regular season 18-4, undefeated 12-0 champs of the North Division of the Southeast Iowa Superconference, and will next be on the diamond Saturday when they host Lone Tree in the opening round of the Class 1A District Tournament live on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com.