A rivalry matchup takes center stage in the KCII Area Game of the Week tonight, as Hillcrest Academy baseball hosts Lone Tree in its home opener.

It took nine innings Thursday, but the Ravens earned their way to a 1-0 record in Winfield. Jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first, Hillcrest would add one more in the sixth before surrendering four in the bottom half. A seven-run ninth would leave no doubt from an offense with 13 hits and 10 RBI’s. Seth Ours had two of them off two doubles and also picked up the win throwing the last three and two-thirds. Phoenix Anderson, the game’s starter, fanned five in just over five innings of work, and also knocked in two at the plate. Responding to adversity was a good sign for a Raven team coming off a perfect conference record one year ago.

Standing in their way are the Lone Tree Lions, 1-1 after their first week of play and looking for their first Superconference win. Dropping their opener 9-3 to West Liberty, the Lions scored a 2-0 victory over Springville Thursday. Lone Tree saw six different players with a hit, including seniors Ethan Bockelman and Harry Brenneman. The tandem of Emmett Burke and Jack Patterson caused fits for the Orioles at the plate. The two combined to allow just three hits, with each striking out eight. The Lions return much of last year’s squad, losing Mathew Hemsted, Joe Boxwell, Drew Gauley, and Caden Smith. 

Listen to the KCII Area Game of the Week make its baseball debut tonight as Lone Tree clashes with Hillcrest Academy. Pregame coverage begins at 5 p.m. on the KCII3 Stream, available at KCIIradio.com, then its first pitch between the Ravens and Lions at 5:30 live from Kalona.