Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook/Social Media

The 2024 campaign came to a close last week for the Hillcrest Academy Raven baseball team, dropping a Class 1A District Semifinal to BGM in Kalona 7-6. The two teams faced off like prizefighters all night, going punch for counter punch. The Bears got on the board first with a tally in the top of the second, and Hillcrest answered with their own in the bottom half to tie the game at one. In the top of three, it was the Bears again with a single run to go up 2-1 and the Raven response was two in the bottom half to take their first lead of the night at 3-2 after three. BGM dealt the big blow in the top of the fourth, scoring four times to grab a 6-3 advantage they wouldn’t give up the rest of the night. The Ravens scored twice in the bottom of four to climb within 6-5, but a BGM run in the top of the fifth made the Hillcrest deficit 7-5 after five. The Ravens found one run in the sixth to get back within a single tally, but could not complete the comeback. Hillcrest head coach Danny Hershberger joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about what he saw as the difference in the game.

Hershberger said, “We had traffic on the bases all night and opportunities to score. Credit BGM, they did a great job of finding those two-out hits. I’m proud of the way our guys continued to fight back. The middle and bottom of the order did a great job getting on base and getting hits. Phoenix Anderson came away with a big RBI single for us in the sixth to pull us within one. Seth (Ours) did a great job having some really big at bats, that was huge for us. Mason Bender swung the bat really well the last week of the season and was able to find gaps in the outfield for a double with two big RBIs. Lawson Schrock, a freshman, stepped up and had some big hits and RBIs.”

The Bears out hit Hillcrest 15-8. The Ravens drew eight walks. The Bears had seven different players record an RBI and were led by a three hit night from Tucker Wright and two hits each for Dominic Coleman, Beau Burns, Kieran Sacora and Robby Tometich. Burns got the win on the hill for his four innings of work, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, walking three and striking out four. Raven leaders included Mason Bender and Seth Ours with two hits and two runs scored each. Bender drove in two runs on a double. Lawson Schrock also had two RBI on a double. Phoenix Anderson knocked in one. Ours took the loss on the mound, going four innings, surrendering 10 hits, four earned runs, walking two and striking out three. The win moved BGM to 18-7, while Hillcrest ends their season at 16-5, with their second straight Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division title. The Ravens will bring back every one from this year’s roster next season.