The Hillcrest Academy girls of summer start the new campaign tonight with a visit to Keosaqua to match up with the Van Buren Warriors. The Raven softballers were 7-17 overall a year ago, 4-10, sixth in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division. Their seven total victories were their highest total since 2016. The Ravens hit .271 as a team with a .398OBP and .316 slug with 119 runs on 131 hits. They were led at the plate by Delaney Shaw who hit .431 as a junior with 25 total hits. Lydia Beachy had a team best 20 driven in as a sophomore and Malia Yoder scored a team high 23 runs her sophomore season. In the circle, the Ravens had a staff ERA of 9.78 with a 2.78WHIP in 116 innings with a .242 opponent average, giving up 183 hits, 162 earned runs and 140 walks with 120 strikeouts. Yoder threw 102 innings with a 6.89ERA, giving up 158 hits and 101 earned runs with 116Ks.

Van Buren was 19-8 last season, 10-3 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference South Division, finishing in second place. The Warriors hit .276 as a team with a .467OBP and a .485 slug, scoring 242 runs on 251 hits with 175 RBI. They return their top two hitters in Ashlynn Huff and Callie Kracht who combined to hit .461 with 72 runs, 66 hits and 44RBI. In the circle they had a collective 4.65ERA with a .246 opponent batting average on 176 hits, 156 runs, 99 of them earned, 46 walks and 87 strikeouts. They lose leader Ally Cambell and her 15 wins and 113 innings. Leading returner is Addison Brauns who was 2-1 as a sophomore with a 3.87 ERA in 25 innings. This week, Hillcrest head coach Kent Blossom talked with KCII Sports about what has him most excited for the upcoming season.

Blossom said, “I’m excited for more consistency. Both on the defensive end and at the plate. I firmly believe Malia (Yoder) is one of the best pitchers in the conference. Her competitiveness is going to keep us in every game, and it’s going to be a matter of if we can take control on the offensive end and limit the errors on the defensive end.”

These teams met last year with Van Buren taking a 15-3 win. Action starts tonight at 7p.m. at Van Buren High School.