It took a full nine innings, but if you ask the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team, it was worth it. Hillcrest started the 2024 season Thursday with an 11-7 win over the Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves on the road in the opener of the new year for both teams. Hillcrest grabbed an early lead with a three spot in the first inning. Things stayed 3-0 Ravens until the sixth when they tacked on one more to up 4-0. The Wolves evened things with a four spot in the bottom half and the contest stayed deadlocked through regulation and the first extra frame. The Raven offense exploded in the top of the ninth for seven runs, and while the Wolves didn’t go quietly, they scored three in their half of the ninth, it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Hillcrest outhit WMU 13-7 and drew six walks. Each team made three errors. Individual leaders for the Ravens included two RBI each for Seth Ours, Rowan Miller and Phoenix Anderson. Ours had four hits, Miller three and Anderson two. Ours also scored twice, and was the winning pitcher in relief, working three and two thirds with three hits, three runs allowed, two earned and two strikeouts.

The Wolves had two hits each from Riley Kaalberg and Lane Genkinger. Kohlby Newsom drove in a pair and Nick Sparrow scored twice. Kason Dopler took the loss in relief, giving up five hits, seven runs, six earned with four walks and three Ks. Cael Phillips started and went seven, surrendering seven hits, four runs, three earned and striking out five. The Ravens are now 1-0 and meet Lone Tree in Kalona Tuesday, WMU is 0-1 and draws Notre Dame at home Wednesday.